Evaluating genetic connectivity and re-colonization dynamics of moose in the Northeast. Theme 4, Principal Investigator(s): Dr. Heidi Kretser and Dr. Michale Glennon, Wildlife Conservation Society hkretser@wcs.org mglennon@wcs.org 7 Brandy Brook Avenue, Saranac Lake, NY 12983 Collaborators and affiliations: Michael Schwartz and Kristy Pilgrim, U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station Genetics Laboratory Completion date: 12-31-11 Genetic evaluation of moose tissues from the northeast states and provinces suggests the St. Lawrence Seaway presents a barrier to gene flow. This finding may indicate a true barrier to moose movement or a founding effect as most northeast states moose recolonized from a remnant population in northern Maine. Funding support for this project was provided by the Northeastern States Research Cooperative (NSRC), a partnership of Northern Forest states (New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, and New York), in coordination with the USDA Forest Service. http://www.nsrcforest.org
Project Summary The goal of this project was to inform future management and conservation efforts for moose in the Northeast by establishing the genetic connectivity of moose in the northeastern states and provinces and understanding re-colonization dynamics of the Adirondack moose population. Despite moose s historic recovery in one of the most populous regions of the world, little is known about how moose use the northeastern landscape and how important connectivity might be for a population potentially founded by a few individuals with little genetic variation. We tested 293 tissue and hair tissues and 140 scat samples to look at genetic markers of moose from the Northeast to specify the relationship among regional sub-populations; we amplified DNA from 140 samples of moose scat collected using detection dogs in May 2008 to determine whether the method would be viable for calculating population estimates. We are now disseminating the results to inform future moose management and conservation efforts in the Northeast, especially in light of climate change. We found distinct genetic differences among moose from north of the St. Lawrence Seaway and south of the St. Lawrence seaway. We could also see distinctions in the Cape Breton and Nova Scotia mainland populations. Of the 140 scats from New York State, we amplified DNA from 38 samples and found 25 individuals. For NYS, scat sniffing dogs may be a viable method for assessing population if collection and DNA extraction can take place within one month. Overall, if landscape connectivity in the northeast is affecting genetic flow it could also hinder adaption to climate change. Future research should explore the northward movements of moose in the Northeast.
Background: History of Moose in the Northeast 1980 Whitehall, NY
How many moose? NY Current DEC estimate: 500-800 moose VT: ~5,000 NH: ~7,000 ME: ~29,000 oose Locations 1980-1985 se Locations 1985-1990 se Locations 1990-1995 e Locations 1995-1999 ose Locations 1980-1999 1980-1983 1984-1987 1988-1991 1992-1994 1995-1997
AROMA Assessment of the Return of Moose to the Adirondacks 2 dogs, 2 handlers using voice control, 2 orienteers 10 field days in the northern Adirondcaks 20 transects, 3-5 km each Located 141 moose scat samples. More than we expected
METHODS The Wonders of DNA How many moose did we find? Are they related? Where did they come from? How closely related to moose in Vermont? New Hampshire? Maine? Canada? R.LeClair
Methods - Samples 141 scats (42 duplicates) 293 tissue and hair samples from: NY 15, NH 30, ME 60, VT 30, Quebec 42, Nova Scotia - 40, New Brunswick - 46, Ontario - 30 L. Master L.Master
Two Hypotheses Rooftop Highway Interstate 98 Hypothesis I: II: Adirondack Northeast Meta- Subpopulation Housing Development
Results Northeast Tissue Analysis Genotyped 270 samples Nine variable microsatellite loci (Wilson et al. 2003 and Schmidt et al. 2008) L.Master
Principle Components Analysis: Genetic Substructure NSC Cape Breton NSM Nova Scotia Mainland NB New Brunswick NH New Hampshire NY New York ME Maine VT Vermont ON Ontario QCR Quebec north of the St. Lawrence QCP Quebec south of the St. Lawrence
Clustering Algorithm: STRUCTURE Maine NB NH NSM NSC NY ON QC-R QC-P VT
mtdna - Haplotype proportions from 10 areas
Results New York Scat Analysis 140 scats, 38 DNA extractions 25 unique individuals LIMITATION Collected in 2008 Analyzed in 2011 but METHOD WORKS!
Transect scats found /amp East Mountain 16/6 3 Ingham Pond 0 Hardwood Hill 6/0 California Road 0 Ragged Mountain 20/0 Wolf Pond Mountain 9/6 5 Sporting Hill 1/1 1 Champion 14/1 1 Hatch Brook 12/0 Catamount 0 Whiteface 4/1 1 Base Whiteface 15/12 6 VIC 0 Moose Pond 0 Grass Pond 0 Cherry Patch 0 South Meadow 12/1 1 Deer Pond 2/1 1 Huntington 0 Boreas Pond Camas 15/1 1 Boreas Pond 15/9 7 inds
Landscape Context
Future Directions Scat sampling for population estimates (New York State). Strategic sampling around Seaway or between NY and VT for understanding movement patterns. Health assays using moose scat. Determine if other species have similar genetic spatial variability north and south of the Seaway.
List of products Presentations (5) On the Scent of Moose in the Adirondacks: Adirondack Park Visitor Interpretive Center September 2009 The Wild Center July 2010 Great Adirondack Moose Festival September 2010 Adirondack Mountain Club, St. Lawrence Chapter, Canton, NY, November 2011 The Nature Conservancy s Lecture Series, White Hall, NY, February 2011 Hosted moose meeting with NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Biologists. Sharing findings with the Multi-State Wildlife Grant Group Staying Connected, February 2012. Technical report and journal article in preparation, expected to be completed in 2012.
Acknowledgements US Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station Genetics Lab, Dr. Michael Schwartz and Dr. Kristy Pilgrim. State and Provincial Wildlife Units for VT, NH, ME, NB, NS. QU, QN The Wild Center Working Dogs for Conservation NYSDEC Upland Forestry Northeastern States Research Cooperative Field Crew: Gary Lee, Bill Kitchen Photos: Larry Master, Ray Le Clair, Jeff Fountain, Dave Gomeau, Richard Nelson, contributors to the DEC moose photo website.