Variability of red cell enzymes and genetic implications of management policies in Scandinavian moose (Alces alces)

Abstract

The Swedish moose (Alces alces) population was chosen as a model for the estimation of the effects of selective hunting policies on the genetic structure of a population. The need for genetic markers led us to initiate an electrophoretic examination of moose red cell enzymes. A minimum of 60 specimens from three different areas were examined at 16 enzyme systems, representing at least 23 structural loci. Genetic variation was found at only one locus, coding for PHI (phosphohexose isomerase). A total of 1384 specimens sampled from the three areas during two consecutive years were screened for PHI variation. PHI polymorphism was only found in one of the three regions, and within that region there was a tendency towards further spatial variation. The results are discussed from both a population genetics and a wildlife management perspective. Further search for polymorphic loci expressed in other tissues has been started.