Evolution, ecology and conservation—revisiting three decades of Arctic fox population genetic research

Polar research

Øystein Flagstad¹  Johan Wallén²  Love Dalén³  Karin Norén⁴  Anders Angerbjörn⁵  Dominique Berteaux⁶ 

[1] Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, SwedenView further author information;Canada Research Chair on Northern Biodiversity and Centre for Northern Studies, Université du Québec á Rimouski, Rimouski, CanadaView further author information;Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden;Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, SwedenCorrespondence;Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, SwedenView further author information;Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Trondheim, NorwayView further author information

关键词: Glaciations;    microevolution;    dispersal;    adaptation;    DNA;    Vulpes lagopus;   

DOI  :  10.1080/17518369.2017.1325135

学科分类：自然科学（综合）

来源: Co-Action Publishing

【 摘 要 】

ABSTRACTThree decades have passed since the Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) was first put into a population genetic perspective. With the aim of addressing how microevolution operates on different biological levels, we here review genetic processes in the Arctic fox at the level of species, populations and individuals. Historical and present dispersal patterns, especially in the presence of sea ice, are the most powerful factors that create a highly homogeneous genetic structure across the circumpolar distribution, with low detectable divergence between the coastal and lemming ecotypes. With dispersal less pronounced or absent, other processes emerge; populations that are currently isolated, for example, because of the lack of sea ice, are genetically divergent. Moreover, small populations generally display signatures of genetic drift, inbreeding, inbreeding depression and, under specific situations, hybridization with domestic fox breeds. Mating system and social organization in the Arctic fox appear to be d...

【 授权许可】

CC BY-NC