DOI: 10.5061/dryad.wwpzgmsw6
title: Cryptic population structure in sandhill cranes (Antigone canadensis) of the Pacific Flyway

description: Population segregation catalyzes genetic differentiation and can lead to
 speciation. Population genetic structure is also critically important for
 population management, especially in species characterized by small,
 isolated populations. Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) populations of
 the Pacific Flyway are made up of breeding populations nesting west of the
 Rocky Mountains, and isolated by intermediate mountain ranges. Current
 management policy in British Columbia treats all Sandhill Cranes as a
 single population, whereas in the western United States subpopulations are
 subject to population specific management. Here, we analyze microsatellite
 markers, mitochondrial DNA sequences, and mitochondrial haplogroups,
 derived from 203 individual Sandhill Cranes to elucidate population
 genetic structure of cranes migrating along the Pacific Flyway to summer
 breeding habitat on the North and Central Coast of British Columbia and
 southeast Alaska. STRUCTURE, AMOVA, FST, DAPC, and phylogenetic analyses
 reveal that geographically separated crane populations along the west
 coast of North America show substantial genetic differentiation in the
 Pacific Flyway. These findings are consistent with behavioural and
 ecological evidence - divergent diets, flyways and breeding habitats. We
 conclude that the relatively small coastal Sandhill Crane populations
 deserve special management consideration to safeguard their genetic
 diversity and adaptations, and to mitigate deleterious impacts of current
 and future climate change scenarios.
description: # Cryptic population structure in sandhill cranes (Antigone canadensis) of
 the Pacific Flyway Dataset DOI:
 [10.5061/dryad.wwpzgmsw6](10.5061/dryad.wwpzgmsw6) Dataset associated with
 manuscript: Cryptic population structure in Sandhill Cranes (Antigone
 canadensis) of the Pacific Flyway. Contains microsatellite markers,
 locations, and population assignments. ## Description of the data and file
 structure Data file name: SACR_Dryad.Final.csv Samples (feathers and
 blood) were collected from Sandhill Cranes from Haida Gwaii BC, Coastal
 BC, Interior BC, and Alaska populations (west of the Rocky Mountains).
 Micro-satellite and mtDNA markers were obtained from samples. Please see
 detailed methods in Joy, R. et al. 2025. Cryptic population structure in
 Sandhill Cranes (*Antigone canadensis*) of the Pacific Flyway. Ecology and
 Evolution. Column descriptors are provided below. * SampleID: unique
 sample identifier * Organism: all samples are of Antigone canadensis
 (Sandhill Cranes) * Population: description of population either,
 ALASKA=South West Alaska, COAST=Coastal British Columbia and South East
 Alaska, HAIDAGWAII=Haida Gwaii, BC, INTERIOR=Interior of British Columbia
 * Collection Date: Sample collection date, if known in yyyy format. If
 unknown, recorded as NA * Sample.collection.Latitude: the latitude where
 the sample was collected * Sample.Collection.Longitude: the longitude
 where the sample was collected * sample.type: type of material samples
 were derived from either: blood=blood samples, carcass=road kill includes
 feathers and blood, feathers=feathers, toe clips & feathers=toe clips
 & feathers from Sandhill Crane carcass * Gram6.Allele1: value for this
 microsatellite allele * Gram6.Allele2: value for this microsatellite
 allele * Gram11.Allele1: value for this microsatellite allele *
 Gram11.Allele2: value for this microsatellite allele * Gram20.Allele1:
 value for this microsatellite allele * Gram20.Allele2: value for this
 microsatellite allele * Gram22.Allele1: value for this microsatellite
 allele * Gram22.Allele2: value for this microsatellite allele *
 Gram30.Allele1: value for this microsatellite allele * Gram30.Allele2:
 value for this microsatellite allele * Gram42.Allele1: value for this
 microsatellite allele * Gram42.Allele2: value for this microsatellite
 allele * GjM15.Allele1: value for this microsatellite allele *
 GjM15.Allele2: value for this microsatellite allele * GjM48b.Allele1:
 value for this microsatellite allele * GjM48b.Allele2: value for this
 microsatellite allele Antigone canadensis is currently (2025) classified
 by by International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
 as a species of "Least Concern". The Committee on the Status of
 Endangered Wildlife in Canada also classifies Antigone canadensis as a
 species "Not at Risk".