Identify vulnerable populations of mountain goats

Project ID: P19AC00167

Federal Agency: National Park Service

Partner Institution: Alaska Department of Fish and Game

Fiscal Year: 2019

Initial Funding: $24,328

Total Funding: $24,328

Project Type: Research

Project Disciplines: Biological

National Park: Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve

Principal Investigator: White, Kevin

Agreement Technical Representative: Lewis, Tania

Abstract: This project will use non-invasive genetic techniques to determine abundance, effective population size, and genetic population structure of mountain goats in portions of Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve (GLBA) and Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park (KLGO) to identify populations vulnerable to climate change and human activity.
Public purpose is advanced by this project by: (a) determining abundance, population size, and genetic population of mountain goats in Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve and Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park; (b) developing a genetic database for monitoring subpopulations to assist park managers and the State of Alaska in policy decisions; (c) database will be also useful for identifying any illegal harvest.

1. Identify genetic population structure, abundance, and effective population size of specific populations of mountain goats in KLGO and GLBA to determine: genetic differentiation between distinct geographic areas, abundance of each population, the degree of isolation and movement/dispersal among geographic areas, movement corridors between populations.

2. Identify which populations are vulnerable due to low genetic diversity and/or small actual and effective population size.

3. Develop a genetic database for monitoring subpopulations and a corresponding geospatial dataset for evaluating the effect of park management and future developments on genetic connectivity of goats.