Comparing the genetic population structure of two species of arctic lemmings: more local differentiation in Lemmus trimucronatus than in Dicrostonyx groenlandicus

Abstract

Collared and brown lemmings (Dicrostonyx groenlandicus and Lemmus trimucronatus) are two largely sympatric and ecologically comparable species of arctic microtine rodents, differing however in some respects which allow us to hypothesise differences in the genetic structure of their populations. Collared lemmings are particularly well adapted to life at high latitude, they occasionally emerge to the surface of the snow and may disperse over larger distances than brown lemmings – possibly even over snow and ice. This should result in more local differentiation among populations of brown lemmings than among populations of collared lemmings. We compared the genetic population structure between the two lemming species in a fragmented landscape with small islands in the central Canadian Arctic using four microsatellite loci and partial mitochondrial control region sequences. Both types of genetic markers showed higher differentiation (FST values) among local populations for brown lemmings than for collared lemmings. We discuss to what extent the observed genetic differences may be explained by differences in dispersal rates in addition to differences in average effective population size.