Genetic tool for distinguishing taiga and tundra geese

New genetic tool to cut the Gordian Knot of Bean Goose conservation and management

In Bean Goose Anser fabalis, regulations, decisions and measures in conservation and management are now on subspecies level. Unfortunately, telling apart the Tundra rossicus and Taiga fabalis subspecies from morphological features is very difficult. Most of the presumed distinctive characteristics (e.g. number of “teeth” and shape of the bill) are highly variable and overlapping. This became apparent in an attempt to sort out the hundreds of Bean Goose heads sent in by hunters from Sweden and Finland. A large proportion could not be classified with certainty, and thus the proportion of the subspecies in the hunting bags could not be measured. Preliminary results from mitochondria-DNA based subspecies identification (barcoding) have not been fully satisfying. Although this method is popular for (sub)species identification, it is expensive, time-consuming and unstable across labs and markers. Methods based on Single Nuceotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) lack these disadvantages and can be used on samples with little or degraded DNA (e.g. from feathers, faeces or water). In this project we intend to develop a SNP panel for the fluid well Biomark HD (Illumina) machine at the dept of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studie at SLU in Umeå. The Molecular Ecology Group at this department has a good track-record of developing and using SNP panels. We also have the samples needed to develop and fullscale test a SNP panel for Bean Goose and we await an externally financed post-doc who will do much of the job. With this SNP panel, Bean Goose conservation can cut the Gordian Knot that has held back further development so far. Released from this roadblock, evidence-based Bean Goose conservation and management can allow hunters to harvest and farmers to protect their crops without jeopardizing the conservation status of the various populations.

Adriaan de Jong, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

2 995 000 SEK

In September 2020, a fairly optimistic view on the development of the covid19-pandemic and its cascading effects prevailed. Today, we know that the impact on the world, including science, increased rather than vanished. The project “Taiga, Tundra or in-between” has suffered badly from strained laboratory resources, rising costs and loss of co-workers. Currently, the project is more than one year behind schedule and faces significantly higher costs for the completing steps. Within the original time and budget plan, the project plan can no longer be completed. Growing concern about the conditions for the project have been expressed to Naturvårdsverket repeatedly before. There are two alternative ways ahead. Under premature termination, only the sequencing data and the candidate SNPs can be made available for future science. Alternatively, additional resources are made available to build, validate, test and publish the intended SNP-panel for further use in Bean Goose conservation and management. This would require 245,000 SEK for a streamlined final lap.

Adriaan de Jong, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

790 000 SEK