Kin groups in closely spaced capercaillie leks

• We quantified the genetic structure among 58 capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) from three closely spaced leks in boreal Russia using ten microsatellite loci. We did not find significant structuring with respect to lek membership in an overall analysis. However, all but one individual could be strongly assigned to one of two genetic clusters, which we interpret as reflecting different local lineages or extended family groups. There was evidence for structuring among some clusters within leks, and one smaller lek consisted of nine out of ten males from one cluster, which could reflect kin biasing of lek membership. One cluster was apparently outperforming the other, since nine out of ten juveniles sampled belonged to it.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Capercaillie

Lek

Genetic structure

Cluster

Tetrao urogallus

Biology

Biologi

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)