Linking genotype, ecotype, and phenotype in an intensively managed large carnivore

Area of Science:

• Wildlife ecology
• Conservation genetics
• Population dynamics

Background:

• Fitness of free-ranging animals is influenced by numerous, often uncharacterized, factors.
• Understanding these factors is crucial for managing threatened populations like grizzly bears (Ursus arctos).

Purpose of the Study:

• To integrate GPS habitat use data and genetic profiling to assess their influence on fitness proxies in Alberta grizzly bears.
• To investigate the correlation between genetic clusters, habitat use (ecotypes), and fitness indicators.

Main Methods:

• Utilized GPS data for habitat use and genetic profiling for population analysis.
• Correlated individual cluster assignments (genotype/ecotype) using Pearson correlation.
• Analyzed the influence of sex, age, habitat use, and homozygosity on fitness proxies (mass, length, body condition).

Main Results:

• Detected distinct genetic and habitat use clusters with significant correlation (r=0.34, P<0.01).
• Related individuals exhibited similar habitat use regardless of distance or sex.
• Fitness proxies were influenced by sex, age, and habitat use; homozygosity showed a positive effect, potentially indicating outbreeding depression.
• Over 300 translocations since the 1970s often involved habitat changes, potentially driving outbreeding.

Conclusions:

• Human-mediated translocations may be unintentionally causing outbreeding in grizzly bears.
• The observed heterozygosity-fitness correlations could be linked to outbreeding depression or energetic costs of larger body size.
• Understanding genotype-ecotype-phenotype links is critical for grizzly bear conservation and management, especially given human-induced migrations.