Development of High‐Throughput Genomic Resources to Inform White‐Tailed Deer Population and Disease Management
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are the most abundant and widespread cervid in North America. Genetic data are used as a tool to monitor populations and make management decisions for this game species. However, the development and use of genomic tools that can generate a set of markers suitable for longitudinal genomic data collection, whether for management purposes or to study the demographic and evolutionary processes of widely distributed species, have been challenging. This is mainly due to the cost required to fully implement and interpret the data produced. Here, we generated whole genome resequencing data for 44 free-ranging deer from three regions in their central and eastern North American range and identified over 89 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). We used a subset of these SNPs to develop two nested SNP tools, a high-density array (702,183 SNPs) and a medium-density array (72,723 SNPs) to support deer and chronic wasting disease (CWD) management and research. SNPs were selected to ensure an even distribution across scaffolds of the reference genome and include SNPs associated with CWD susceptibility. Using genotyping results for 469 deer from 15 states in the US and Mexico generated by the high-density array and 1335 deer from 18 states generated by the medium-density array, we assessed genotyping success across different populations and explored some insights into population structure. These genomic tools offer a standard set of markers that will enable researchers and managers to address important questions related to white-tailed deer and CWD management. Our SNP arrays also offer the opportunity to examine aspects of white-tailed deer ecology and evolutionary history that were previously difficult to address.
Source: Molecular Ecology Resources
Authors: David Navarro, Emily K. Latch, Anaïs K. Tallon, Caitlin N. Ott‐Conn, Randy W. DeYoung, Daniel P. Walsh, Peter T. Euclide, Chandika R. G., Wes A. Larson, Arun S. Seetharam, Andrew J. Severin, James M. Reecy, Zhi‐Liang Hu, Jay R. Cantrell, Michelle Carstensen, Joe N. Caudell, Charlie H. Killmaster, Mitch L. Lockwood, William T. McKinley, Andrew S. Norton, Krysten L. Schuler, Daniel J. Storm, Jason A. Sumners, W. David Walter, Julie A. Blanchong
Institutions: Iowa State University, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Texas A&M University – Kingsville, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, United States Geological Survey, University of Montana, Purdue University West Lafayette, Illinois Indiana Sea Grant, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Alaska Fisheries Science Center, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, Cornell University, New York State College of Veterinary Medicine, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Missouri Department of Conservation, Pennsylvania State University
Language: English
Subfield: Genetics
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $5,250
Funders: Michigan State University, Iowa State University, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Robert J. Kleberg, Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg Foundation, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, College of Engineering, Michigan State University, State of Iowa
OpenAlex ID: W4416690426