Ecological Genetic Study on Yellow-throated Martens (Martes flavigula) in Jirisan National Park Inferred from Microsatellite Loci Analysis : Individual Identification, Relatedness and Abundance

Abstract

Understanding genetic relatedness and abundance estimate is necessary for developing efficient conservation strategies of social animal such as yellow-throated martens. Although social structure based on relatedness influences life style such as behavior, foraging, dispersal and mating system, social structure of yellow-throated marten has not been revealed due to confusion with elusive species and limitation of traditional ecological surveying method. By using ten cross-species microsatellite markers, this study investigated genetic diversity and assessed the relationship among yellow-throated martens and abundance estimate from non-invasive samples. Total of 223 hair samples were collected from specially designed hair trap in Jirisan National Park and 21 genetic profiles were found from 50 genotypes. Genetic background samples of 12 Martes flavigula were collected across a wide geographic area in the Korean peninsula. Averages of expected heterozygosities of 12 genetic background samples and 21 individuals from hairs were 0.45 and 0.44, respectively. These values of genetic diversity were at moderate level compared to other species of the same genus. According to our results, mean relatedness of 21 individuals was －0.05 ± SD 0.42 (SE = 0.03) and －0.05 ± SD 0.27 (SE = 0.02) using Queller and Goodnight method and Lynch and Ritland method, respectively. The results show that kinship does not play a significant role in shaping social structure and dispersal can be predicted due to low degree of relatedness among martens. Abundance estimate from mark-recapture method for yellow-throated marten in intensive study area was 32 ± 6.8397 (95% CI

25 – 54). However, abundance estimate for entire region of Jirisan National Park was difficult to estimate due to our limited sampling efforts. It was concluded that ten polymorphic microsatellite markers enabled individual identification, genetic relatedness and abundance estimate for yellow-throated martens.