Spatial patterns and rarity of the white-phased ‘Spirit Bear’ allele reveals gaps in habitat protection

Preserving genetic and phenotypic diversity can help safeguard not only biodiversity but also cultural and economic values.

Here, we present data that emerged from Indigenous-led research at the intersection of evolution and ecology to support conservation planning of a culturally salient, economically valuable, and rare phenotypic variant. We addressed three conservation objectives for the white-phased ‘Spirit bear’ polymorphism, a rare and endemic white-coated phenotype of black bear (Ursus americanus) in Kitasoo/Xai’xais and Gitga’at Territories and beyond in coastal British Columbia, Canada. First, we used non-invasively collected hair samples (n = 385 bears over ~18,000 km2) to assess the spatial variation in the frequency of the allele that controls the white-coloured morph (mc1r). Second, we compared our observed allele frequencies at mc1r with those expected under Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Finally, we examined how well current protected areas in the region aligned with spat...