Transferrin variation and evolution of Alaskan reindeer and caribou, Rangifer tarandus L.

Knut H Røed,Ken R Whitten

doi:10.7557/2.6.2.655

Abstract

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to analyse transferrin variation in wild caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) and domestic reindeer (R.t. tarandus) from Alaska. Eighteen alleles were detected in caribou and ten alleles were detected in reindeer. The most common allele was Tf 1 with a frequency of 0.304 and 0.408 in caribou and reindeer, respectively. The allele frequency distributions were significantly different in reindeer and caribou. This finding, together with the absence in reindeer of nine alleles present in caribou, suggests that little genetic exchange has taken place between caribou and reindeer in Alaska. The allele frequency distribution in Alaska caribou and reindeer are compared with those for other populations of caribou and reindeer. This comparison indicates that Alaskan caribou as well as Eurasian reindeer have evolved from a common ancesteral population different from the ancesteral population of Peary cairbou (R.t. pearyi) and Svalbard reindeer (R.t. platyrhynchus).

Highlights

In Alaska domestic reindeer, Rangifer tarandus L . , originate from animals introduced from Eurasia and not from the native caribou
We report here the result of an electrophoretic examination of the transferrin locus in caribou and domestic reindeer in Alaska in order to determine the amount of genetic exchange that has taken place between these populations
In Alaska the wild caribou appear to have several more alleles coding for transferrin than do the domestic animals

Summary

Introduction

In Alaska domestic reindeer, Rangifer tarandus L . , originate from animals introduced from Eurasia and not from the native caribou. The present domestic reindeer are, assumed to originate mainly from the first introduction in 1892, when 1280 reindeer were imported from Eastern Siberia and brought to the Seward Peninsula in Alaska (Stern et aL, 1980) These animals subsequently increased in number to approximately 600.000, and had become widespread in large parts of Alaska by the early 1930s (Klein, 1980; Stern et aL, 1980, Thomas and Arobio, 1983). Grantpresumably contributed to the population decline (Klein, 1980; Thomas and Arobio, 1983) This loss led to extensive speculations about the genetic influence of domestic reindeer on wild caribou in Alaska (cf Greig, 1979; Klein, 1980)

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Results

Conclusion