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Fingland K, Ward SJ, Bates AJ, Bremner‐Harrison S. A systematic review into the suitability of urban refugia for the Eurasian red squirrel
Sciurus vulgaris. Mamm Rev 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/mam.12264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn Fingland
- School of Animal Rural and Environmental Sciences Nottingham Trent University Southwell NottinghamshireNG25 0QFUK
| | - Samantha J. Ward
- School of Animal Rural and Environmental Sciences Nottingham Trent University Southwell NottinghamshireNG25 0QFUK
| | - Adam J. Bates
- School of Animal Rural and Environmental Sciences Nottingham Trent University Southwell NottinghamshireNG25 0QFUK
| | - Samantha Bremner‐Harrison
- School of Animal Rural and Environmental Sciences Nottingham Trent University Southwell NottinghamshireNG25 0QFUK
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Hardouin EA, Butler H, Cvitanović M, Ulrich RG, Schulze V, Schilling AK, Lurz PWW, Meredith A, Hodder KH. Wildlife conservation in a fragmented landscape: the Eurasian red squirrel on the Isle of Wight. CONSERV GENET 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-021-01380-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AbstractIsland populations may have a higher extinction risk due to reduced genetic diversity and need to be managed effectively in order to reduce the risk of biodiversity loss. The Eurasian red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) in the south of England only survive on three islands (the Isle of Wight, Brownsea and Furzey islands), with the Isle of Wight harbouring the largest population in the region. Fourteen microsatellites were used to determine the genetic structure of red squirrel populations on the Isle of Wight, as well as their relatedness to other populations of the species. Our results demonstrated that squirrels on these islands were less genetically diverse than those in Continental mainland populations, as would be expected. It also confirmed previous results from mitochondrial DNA which indicated that the squirrels on the Isle of Wight were relatively closely related to Brownsea island squirrels in the south of England. Importantly, our findings showed that genetic mixing between squirrels in the east and west of the Isle of Wight was very limited. Given the potential deleterious effects of small population size on genetic health, landscape management to encourage dispersal of squirrels between these populations should be a priority.
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Fountain K, Blackett T, Butler H, Carchedi C, Schilling AK, Meredith A, Gibbon MJ, Lloyd DH, Loeffler A, Feil EJ. Fatal exudative dermatitis in island populations of red squirrels ( Sciurus vulgaris): spillover of a virulent Staphylococcus aureus clone (ST49) from reservoir hosts. Microb Genom 2021; 7:000565. [PMID: 34016250 PMCID: PMC8209723 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Fatal exudative dermatitis (FED) is a significant cause of death of red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) on the island of Jersey in the Channel Islands where it is associated with a virulent clone of Staphylococcus aureus, ST49. S. aureus ST49 has been found in other hosts such as small mammals, pigs and humans, but the dynamics of carriage and disease of this clone, or any other lineage in red squirrels, is currently unknown. We used whole-genome sequencing to characterize 228 isolates from healthy red squirrels on Jersey, the Isle of Arran (Scotland) and Brownsea Island (England), from red squirrels showing signs of FED on Jersey and the Isle of Wight (England) and a small number of isolates from other hosts. S. aureus was frequently carried by red squirrels on the Isle of Arran with strains typically associated with small ruminants predominating. For the Brownsea carriage, S. aureus was less frequent and involved strains associated with birds, small ruminants and humans, while for the Jersey carriage S. aureus was rare but ST49 predominated in diseased squirrels. By combining our data with publicly available sequences, we show that the S. aureus carriage in red squirrels largely reflects frequent but facile acquisitions of strains carried by other hosts sharing their habitat ('spillover'), possibly including, in the case of ST188, humans. Genome-wide association analysis of the ruminant lineage ST133 revealed variants in a small number of mostly bacterial-cell-membrane-associated genes that were statistically associated with squirrel isolates from the Isle of Arran, raising the possibility of specific adaptation to red squirrels in this lineage. In contrast there is little evidence that ST49 is a common carriage isolate of red squirrels and infection from reservoir hosts such as bank voles or rats, is likely to be driving the emergence of FED in red squirrels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kay Fountain
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Tiffany Blackett
- Voluntary Co-ordinator of the JSPCA Animals' Shelter Red Squirrel Disease Surveillance Scheme, JSPCA Animals' Shelter, 89 St Saviours Road, St Helier, Jersey JE2 4GJ, Jersey
| | - Helen Butler
- Wight Squirrel Project, PO Box 33 Nicholson Road, Ryde, Isle of Wight PO33 1BH, UK
| | - Catherine Carchedi
- Department of Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, North Mymms, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, UK
| | - Anna-Katarina Schilling
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Anna Meredith
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK
- Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville Campus, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Marjorie J. Gibbon
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
| | - David H. Lloyd
- Department of Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, North Mymms, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, UK
| | - Anette Loeffler
- Department of Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, North Mymms, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, UK
| | - Edward J. Feil
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
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Nelson SL, Taylor SA, Reuter JD. An isolated white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus) population on St. John, US Virgin Islands shows low inbreeding and comparable heterozygosity to other larger populations. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:2775-2781. [PMID: 33767835 PMCID: PMC7981213 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This is the first study to document the genetic diversity of the white-tailed deer population on St. John, US Virgin Islands. The island population was founded by a small number of animals, has very limited hunting or predation, and recently experienced a reduction in size following an extended drought in 2015. DNA samples were collected from hair from 23 anesthetized adult deer (13 males, 10 females) ranging in age from 1 to 8 years (3.36 ± 1.9 years) and also from fecal DNA samples, for a total of 42 individuals analyzed for genetic diversity. The St. John deer data set averaged 4.19 alleles per marker and demonstrates the second lowest number of alleles (A) when compared to other populations of Odocoileus virginianus (4.19). Heterozygosity was similar to the other studies (0.54) with little evidence of inbreeding. To explain the level of heterozygosity and level of inbreeding within the St. John population, three hypotheses are proposed, including the effect of intrinsic biological traits within the population, a recent infusion of highly heterogeneous loci from North American populations, and a consistent level of immigration from a nearby island. Additional work is needed to further understand the genetic history of the St. John and regional deer populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne L. Nelson
- Department of Integrative PhysiologyUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderCOUSA
| | - Scott A. Taylor
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderCOUSA
| | - Jon D. Reuter
- Office of Animal ResourcesDepartment of Psychology and NeuroscienceUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderCOUSA
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Genetic structure of regional water vole populations and footprints of reintroductions: a case study from southeast England. CONSERV GENET 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-020-01268-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Unmasking the invader: Genetic identity of invasive wild boar from three minor islands off Sardinia (Italy). Mamm Biol 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2018.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Blackett TA, Simpson VR, Haugland S, Everest DJ, Muir CF, Smith KC, Mill AC. Mortalities, amyloidosis and other diseases in free-living red squirrels ( Sciurus vulgaris) on Jersey, Channel Islands. Vet Rec 2018; 183:503. [PMID: 30181130 DOI: 10.1136/vr.104779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2017] [Revised: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 07/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Between 2007 and 2014, 337 free-living red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) on Jersey, Channel Islands, were examined post mortem as part of a mortality and disease surveillance scheme. Road traffic accidents (RTAs) were attributable for 50.7 per cent (171/337) of the casualties, 34.4 per cent (116/337) succumbed to diseases including fatal exudative dermatitis (FED), 7.1 per cent (24/337) to predation, 6.5 per cent (22/337) to other trauma and 1.2 per cent (4/337) to suspected poisoning. Cat predation accounted for 5 per cent (17/337) of mortalities. Pathologies were diverse and individual animals were often identified with more than one disease process. Squirrelpox virus (SQPV) particles were not detected in selected cases examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Amyloid was identified in 19.3 per cent (65/337) of squirrels, often in conjunction with inflammatory lesions like hepatic capillariasis. A consistent cause of amyloid accumulation was not identified, although there was a significant association of amyloidosis with hepatic capillariasis and FED. In addition to RTAs, amyloidosis and FED have been identified as important causes of squirrel morbidity and mortality on Jersey, while the underlying aetiology and predisposing factors for these two disease complexes are presently unclear. Disease, fragmented woodlands, an increasingly suburban habitat, along with various anthropogenic factors, may jeopardise the long-term viability of this island red squirrel population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Clare F Muir
- Department of Pathology and Pathogen Biology, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, UK
| | - Kenneth C Smith
- Department of Pathology and Pathogen Biology, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, UK
| | - Aileen C Mill
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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O’Meara DB, McDevitt AD, O’Neill D, Harrington AP, Turner P, Carr W, Desmond M, Lawton C, Marnell F, Rubalcava S, Sheehy E, Sleeman DP, Tosh D, Waters C, O’Reilly C. Retracing the history and planning the future of the red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) in Ireland using non-invasive genetics. MAMMAL RES 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-018-0353-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Portanier E, Garel M, Devillard S, Marchand P, Andru J, Maillard D, Bourgoin G. Introduction history overrides social factors in explaining genetic structure of females in Mediterranean mouflon. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:9580-9591. [PMID: 29187991 PMCID: PMC5696436 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2017] [Revised: 08/15/2017] [Accepted: 08/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Fine‐scale spatial genetic structure of populations results from social and spatial behaviors of individuals such as sex‐biased dispersal and philopatry. However, the demographic history of a given population can override such socio‐spatial factors in shaping genetic variability when bottlenecks or founder events occurred in the population. Here, we investigated whether socio‐spatial organization determines the fine‐scale genetic structure for both sexes in a Mediterranean mouflon (Ovis gmelini musimon × Ovis sp.) population in southern France 60 years after its introduction. Based on multilocus genotypes at 16 loci of microsatellite DNA (n = 230 individuals), we identified three genetic groups for females and two for males, and concurrently defined the same number of socio‐spatial units using both GPS‐collared individuals (n = 121) and visual resightings of marked individuals (n = 378). The socio‐spatial and genetic structures did not match, indicating that the former was not the main driver of the latter for both sexes. Beyond this structural mismatch, we found significant, yet low, genetic differentiation among female socio‐spatial groups, and no genetic differentiation in males, with this suggesting female philopatry and male‐biased gene flow, respectively. Despite spatial disconnection, females from the north of the study area were genetically closer to females from the south, as indicated by the spatial analysis of the genetic variability, and this pattern was in accordance with the common genetic origin of their founders. To conclude, more than 14 generations later, genetic signatures of first introduction are not only still detectable among females, but they also represent the main factor shaping their present‐time genetic structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elodie Portanier
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive CNRS Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 Université de Lyon Villeurbanne France.,Unité Faune de Montagne Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage Juvignac France.,VetAgro Sup - Campus Vétérinaire de Lyon Université de Lyon Marcy l'Etoile France
| | - Mathieu Garel
- Unité Faune de Montagne Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage Juvignac France
| | - Sébastien Devillard
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive CNRS Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 Université de Lyon Villeurbanne France
| | - Pascal Marchand
- Unité Faune de Montagne Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage Juvignac France
| | - Julie Andru
- Unité Faune de Montagne Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage Juvignac France.,VetAgro Sup - Campus Vétérinaire de Lyon Université de Lyon Marcy l'Etoile France
| | - Daniel Maillard
- Unité Faune de Montagne Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage Juvignac France
| | - Gilles Bourgoin
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive CNRS Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 Université de Lyon Villeurbanne France.,VetAgro Sup - Campus Vétérinaire de Lyon Université de Lyon Marcy l'Etoile France
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Rézouki C, Dozières A, Le Cœur C, Thibault S, Pisanu B, Chapuis JL, Baudry E. A viable population of the European red squirrel in an urban park. PLoS One 2014; 9:e105111. [PMID: 25126848 PMCID: PMC4134253 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0105111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2014] [Accepted: 07/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Whether urban parks can maintain viable and self-sustaining populations over the long term is questionable. In highly urbanized landscapes, urban parks could play a role in biodiversity conservation by providing habitat and resources to native species. However, populations inhabiting urban parks are usually small and isolated, leading to increased demographic stochasticity and genetic drift, with expected negative consequences on their viability. Here, we investigated a European red squirrel population located in an urban park close to Paris, France (Parc de Sceaux; 184 ha) to assess its viability. Using mitochondrial D-loop sequences and 13 microsatellite loci, we showed that the population presented high levels of genetic variation and no evidence of inbreeding. The size of the population was estimated at 100–120 individuals based on the comparison of two census techniques, Distance Sampling and Capture-Mark-Recapture. The estimated heterozygosity level and population size were integrated in a Population Viability Analysis to project the likelihood of the population's persistence over time. Results indicate that the red squirrel population of this urban park can be viable on the long term (i.e. 20 years) for a range of realistic demographic parameters (juvenile survival at least >40%) and immigration rates (at least one immigration event every two years). This study highlights that urban parks can be potential suitable refuges for the red squirrel, a locally threatened species across western European countries, provided that ecological corridors are maintained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Célia Rézouki
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Anne Dozières
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Christie Le Cœur
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Sophie Thibault
- Laboratoire Ecologie Systématique et Evolution, Université Paris-Sud, Orsay, France
| | - Benoît Pisanu
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Louis Chapuis
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
- * E-mail:
| | - Emmanuelle Baudry
- Laboratoire Ecologie Systématique et Evolution, Université Paris-Sud, Orsay, France
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Mok HF, Stepien CC, Kaczmarek M, Albelo LR, Sequeira AS. Genetic status and timing of a weevil introduction to Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos. J Hered 2014; 105:365-80. [PMID: 24399746 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/est096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Successful invasive species can overcome or circumvent the potential genetic loss caused by an introduction bottleneck through a rapid population expansion and admixture from multiple introductions. We explore the genetic makeup and the timing of a species introduction to Santa Cruz Island in the Galápagos archipelago. We investigate the presence of processes that can maintain genetic diversity in populations of the broad-nosed weevil Galapaganus howdenae howdenae. Analyses of combined genotypes for 8 microsatellite loci showed evidence of past population size reductions through moment and likelihood-based estimators. No evidence of admixture through multiple introductions was found, but substantial current population sizes (N0 298, 95% credible limits 50-2300), genetic diversity comparable with long-established endemics (Mean number of alleles = 3.875), and lack of genetic structure across the introduced range (F ST = 0.01359) could suggest that foundations are in place for populations to rapidly recover any loss of genetic variability. The time estimates for the introduction into Santa Cruz support an accidental transfer during the colonization period (1832-1959) predating the spurt in human population growth. Our evaluation of the genetic status of G. h. howdenae suggests potential for population growth in addition to our field observations of a concurrent expansion in range and feeding preferences towards protected areas and endemic host plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoi-Fei Mok
- the Department of Biological Sciences, Wellesley College, Wellesley
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