Greater White-Fronted Goose Genetic Data Across Circumpolar Range, 1988-2009

665 Greater White-fronted Geese were genotyped at eight nuclear microsatellite loci, and 518 were sequenced for a portion of the mitochondrial control region. The data was collected by Robert E. Wilson of the United States Geological Survey from samples across the species' circumpolar range between 1988 and 2009. Sex was determined for most samples via field morphology or cloacal examination.

Use Cases

• Analyzing population structure and gene flow based on nuclear microsatellite genotypes.
• Studying matrilineal phylogeny and mitochondrial haplotype diversity from the control region sequences.
• Investigating sex-specific dispersal patterns using the field-determined sex data.
• Comparing genetic diversity across different migratory flyways (Midcontinent, Pacific, Greenland, Palearctic).

Strengths

• Includes data from 665 individuals for nuclear loci and 518 for mitochondrial sequences.
• Samples represent multiple flyways across a circumpolar range, providing broad geographic coverage.
• Covers a temporal range of over 20 years (1988-2009).

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count for the combined genotype and sequence data is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

United States Geological Survey

Collection Method

Genotyping and sequencing of biological samples.

Time Range

1988-2009

Geography

Circumpolar range (Midcontinent, Pacific, Greenland, Palearctic flyways)