Genetic differentiation of autochthonous sable populations in Western and Eastern Siberia

Morphological variation and active migration of sables (Martes zibellina Linnaeus, 1758) cause confusion in this species’ intraspecific taxonomy. Four to 17 subspecies have been described thus far. In this study, we clarified sable population structure using 11 microsatellite loci in 665 specimens from 33 sable populations. According to subspecies taxonomy, we expect to find four genetic groups. Our results confirmed the presence of two genetic groups in the territories of Western Siberia (subspecies Martes zibellina zibellina Linnaeus, 1758) and the Western Altai Mountains (subspecies Martes zibellina averini Bashanov, 1943). Another genetic group is formed by the populations of the Central Siberian Plateau and presumably represents the subspecies Martes zibellina yeniseensis Ognev, 1925. Previous descriptions of the area occupied by this subspecies include the mountain regions of Southern Siberia. We found a few genetic groups in the Baikal region, whereas only one subspecies Martes zibellina princeps Birula, 1918 had been described previously.