Data from: Assessing polar bear (Ursus maritimus) population structure in the Hudson Bay region using SNPs

Defining subpopulations using genetics has traditionally used data from microsatellite markers to investigate population structure; however, single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have emerged as a tool for detection of fine-scale structure. In Hudson Bay, Canada, three polar bear (Ursus maritimus) subpopulations (Foxe Basin (FB), Southern Hudson Bay (SH), and Western Hudson Bay (WH)) have been delineated based on mark–recapture studies, radiotelemetry and satellite telemetry, return of marked animals in the subsistence harvest, and population genetics using microsatellites. We used SNPs to detect fine-scale population structure in polar bears from the Hudson Bay region and compared our results to the current designations using 414 individuals genotyped at 2,603 SNPs. Analyses based on discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) and STRUCTURE support the presence of four genetic clusters: (i) Western—including individuals sampled in WH, SH (excluding Akimiski Island in James Bay), and southern FB (south of Southampton Island); (ii) Northern—individuals sampled in northern FB (Baffin Island) and Davis Strait (DS) (Labrador coast); (iii) Southeast—individuals from SH (Akimiski Island in James Bay); and (iv) Northeast—individuals from DS (Baffin Island). Population structure differed from microsatellite studies and current management designations demonstrating the value of using SNPs for fine-scale population delineation in polar bears.

传统上，利用遗传学划定亚种群时，多采用微卫星标记（microsatellite markers）数据探究种群结构；而单核苷酸多态性（single-nucleotide polymorphisms, SNPs）现已成为检测精细尺度种群结构的主流手段。在加拿大哈德逊湾（Hudson Bay）海域，北极熊（Ursus maritimus）此前已基于标记重捕研究、无线电遥测与卫星遥测技术、标记个体在生计狩猎中的回捕情况，以及采用微卫星标记的种群遗传学分析，划定了三个亚种群：福克斯湾（Foxe Basin, FB）、南哈德逊湾（Southern Hudson Bay, SH）与西哈德逊湾（Western Hudson Bay, WH）。本研究利用单核苷酸多态性（SNPs）对哈德逊湾海域北极熊的精细尺度种群结构进行检测，以在2603个SNP位点完成基因分型的414头个体为研究对象，将本研究结果与当前的种群划分方案进行对比。基于主成分判别分析（discriminant analysis of principal components, DAPC）与STRUCTURE软件的分析结果支持存在四个遗传聚类群：（1）西部聚类群：涵盖西哈德逊湾（WH）、南哈德逊湾（不含詹姆斯湾的阿基米斯基岛）以及南福克斯湾（南安普敦岛以南区域）的采样个体；（2）北部聚类群：涵盖北福克斯湾（巴芬岛区域）与戴维斯海峡（Davis Strait, DS，拉布拉多海岸）的采样个体；（3）东南部聚类群：源自南哈德逊湾詹姆斯湾阿基米斯基岛的个体；（4）东北部聚类群：源自戴维斯海峡巴芬岛区域的个体。本研究揭示的种群结构与基于微卫星标记的既往研究结果及当前的管理划分方案存在差异，凸显了利用单核苷酸多态性（SNPs）开展北极熊精细尺度种群划定的应用价值。