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Informing Wildlife Corridor Creation through Population Genetics of an Arboreal Marsupial in a Fragmented Landscape. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14020349. [PMID: 36833276 PMCID: PMC9957349 DOI: 10.3390/genes14020349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Habitat loss and fragmentation contribute significantly to the decline of arboreal mammal populations. As populations become fragmented and isolated, a reduction in gene flow can result in a loss of genetic diversity and have an overall impact upon long-term persistence. Creating wildlife corridors can mitigate such effects by increasing the movement and dispersal of animals, thus acting to reduce population isolation. To evaluate the success of a corridor, a before-after experimental research framework can be used. Here, we report the genetic diversity and structure of sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps) sampling locations within a fragmented landscape prior to the implementation of a wildlife corridor. This study used 5999 genome-wide SNPs from 94 sugar gliders caught from 8 locations in a fragmented landscape in south-eastern New South Wales, Australia. Overall genetic structure was limited, and gene flow was detected across the landscape. Our findings indicate that the study area contains one large population. A major highway dissecting the landscape did not act as a significant barrier to dispersal, though this may be because of its relatively new presence in the landscape (completed in 2018). Future studies may yet indicate its long-term impact as a barrier to gene flow. Future work should aim to repeat the methods of this study to examine the medium-to-long-term impacts of the wildlife corridor on sugar gliders, as well as examine the genetic structure of other native, specialist species in the landscape.
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The genetic structure and connectivity in two sympatric rodent species with different life histories are similarly affected by land use disturbances. CONSERV GENET 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-022-01485-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe negative impact of habitat fragmentation due to human activities may be different in different species that co-exist in the same area, with consequences on the development of environmental protection plans. Here we aim at understanding the effects produced by different natural and anthropic landscape features on gene flow patterns in two sympatric species with different specializations, one generalist and one specialist, sampled in the same locations. We collected and genotyped 194 wood mice (generalist species) and 199 bank voles (specialist species) from 15 woodlands in a fragmented landscape characterized by different potential barriers to dispersal. Genetic variation and structure were analyzed in the two species, respectively. Effective migration surfaces, isolation-by-resistance (IBR) analysis, and regression with randomization were used to investigate isolation-by-distance (IBD) and the relative importance of land cover elements on gene flow. We observed similar patterns of heterozygosity and IBD for both species, but the bank vole showed higher genetic differences among geographic areas. The IBR analysis suggests that (i) connectivity is reduced in both species by urban areas but more strongly in the specialist bank vole; (ii) cultivated areas act as dispersal corridors in both species; (iii) woodlands appear to be an important factor in increasing connectivity in the bank vole, and less so in the wood mouse. The difference in dispersal abilities between a generalist and specialist species was reflected in the difference in genetic structure, despite extensive habitat changes due to human activities. The negative effects of fragmentation due to the process of urbanization were, at least partially, mitigated by another human product, i.e., cultivated terrains subdivided by hedgerows, and this was true for both species.
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Giuntini S, Pedruzzi L. Sex and the patch: the influence of habitat fragmentation on terrestrial vertebrates’ mating strategies. ETHOL ECOL EVOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2022.2059787] [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]
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Giuntini
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, Via Alessandro Volta 6, Pisa 56126, Italy
- Environmental Analysis and Management Unit, Guido Tosi Research Group, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell’Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Luca Pedruzzi
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, Via Alessandro Volta 6, Pisa 56126, Italy
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Leyhausen J, Cocchiararo B, Nowak C, Ansorge H, Bertolino S, Büchner S, Fietz J, Foppen R, Juškaitis R, La Haye M, Lang J, Michaux J, Verbeylen G, von Thaden A, Mueller SA. Genotyping-by-sequencing based SNP discovery in a non-model rodent, the endangered hazel dormouse. CONSERV GENET RESOUR 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12686-022-01253-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe hazel dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius presents an exemplary non-model species that is both locally threatened and whose genetic status is not fully understood owing to insufficient resolution of the currently available molecular tools. We performed normalized Genotyping-by-Sequencing (nGBS) on 48 hazel dormouse samples collected across the species European distribution, aiming at discovering useful single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers for the assessment of population structure and genomic diversity. The analyses of > 24,000 SNPs showed a high divergence between the Eastern and Western lineage of the species with high rates of SNP allele fixation, consistent with previous studies suggesting the divergence of lineages occurred over 2 mya. These results indicate that investigating inter-lineage as well as within-lineage genetic composition will be a conclusive approach for identifying conservation strategies in the future. Results presented here indicate the highest genetic divergence in the Italian and Lithuanian populations. We document how nGBS allows the discovery of SNPs that can characterize patterns of genetic variation at multiple spatial scales in a non-model organism. We document how nGBS allows the discovery of SNPs that can characterize patterns of genetic variation at multiple spatial scales in a non-model organism, potentially informing monitoring and conservation strategies.
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Matamba E, Richards LR, Cherry MI, Rambau RV. DNA barcoding of the mesic adapted striped mouse, Rhabdomys dilectus in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces of South Africa. VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.3897/vz.71.e68897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
South African small mammals are under-represented in DNA barcoding efforts, particularly from the eastern forested regions of the country. This study reports DNA barcoding of Rhabdomys taxa from previously unsampled parts of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces of South Africa. The complete mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene was sequenced for 101 Rhabdomys sp. individuals from 16 localities from all three main forest groups (coastal, mistbelt, and scarp forests). Molecular data were supplemented with external morphological measurements, including those deemed potential taxonomically diagnostic characters. Findings indicate the area to be inhabited solely by Rhabdomys dilectus chakae. Haplotypes distributed across the three forest groups were separated by shallow sequence divergences ranging from 0.001–0.015 (Kimura 2-parameter model) and displayed very little population genetic structure (FST= 0.071787). Morphological data revealed some regional metric differences in external morphology, but all the head-and-body to tail (HB: tail) ratios match that of R. d. chakae, and consequently, molecular and morphological data are congruent. These data confirm a range extension of R. d. chakae, supporting the utility of COI barcodes in the identification of small mammalian species.
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Ribeiro SE, de Almeida-Rocha JM, Weber MM, Kajin M, Lorini ML, Cerqueira R. Do anthropogenic matrix and life-history traits structure small mammal populations? A meta-analytical approach. CONSERV GENET 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-021-01352-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Dispersal and genetic structure in a tropical small mammal, the Bornean tree shrew (Tupaia longipes), in a fragmented landscape along the Kinabatangan River, Sabah, Malaysia. BMC Genet 2020; 21:43. [PMID: 32303177 PMCID: PMC7164274 DOI: 10.1186/s12863-020-00849-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Constraints in migratory capabilities, such as the disruption of gene flow and genetic connectivity caused by habitat fragmentation, are known to affect genetic diversity and the long-term persistence of populations. Although negative population trends due to ongoing forest loss are widespread, the consequence of habitat fragmentation on genetic diversity, gene flow and genetic structure has rarely been investigated in Bornean small mammals. To fill this gap in knowledge, we used nuclear and mitochondrial DNA markers to assess genetic diversity, gene flow and the genetic structure in the Bornean tree shrew, Tupaia longipes, that inhabits forest fragments of the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, Sabah. Furthermore, we used these markers to assess dispersal regimes in male and female T. longipes. Results In addition to the Kinabatangan River, a known barrier for dispersal in tree shrews, the heterogeneous landscape along the riverbanks affected the genetic structure in this species. Specifically, while in larger connected forest fragments along the northern riverbank genetic connectivity was relatively undisturbed, patterns of genetic differentiation and the distribution of mitochondrial haplotypes in a local scale indicated reduced migration on the strongly fragmented southern riverside. Especially, oil palm plantations seem to negatively affect dispersal in T. longipes. Clear sex-biased dispersal was not detected based on relatedness, assignment tests, and haplotype diversity. Conclusion This study revealed the importance of landscape connectivity to maintain migration and gene flow between fragmented populations, and to ensure the long-term persistence of species in anthropogenically disturbed landscapes.
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Dondina O, Orioli V, Torretta E, Merli F, Bani L, Meriggi A. Combining ensemble models and connectivity analyses to predict wolf expected dispersal routes through a lowland corridor. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0229261. [PMID: 32092115 PMCID: PMC7039448 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The Italian wolf (Canis lupus italicus) population has remained isolated South of the Alps for the last few thousand years. After a strong decline, the species has recolonized the Apennines and the Western Alps, while it is currently struggling to colonize the Eastern Alps. Recently, the species was detected in a lowland park connecting the Northern Apennines to the Central Alps. If the park was able to sustain a net wolf dispersal flow, this could significantly boost the connection with the Eastern Alps and the Dinaric-Balkan population. We investigated the suitability of the park as a functional ecological corridor for the wolf through the unhospitable lowland of Northern Italy. We collected wolf occurrence data in two study areas. We modeled species distribution running a separate ensemble model for each study area and then merging the output of the models to obtain an integrated suitability map. We used this map to identify corridors for the wolf adopting a factorial least-cost path and a cumulative resistant kernel approach. The connectivity models showed that only two corridors exist in the lowland areas between the Northern Apennines and the Central Alps. The Western corridor is a blind route, while the eastern corridor passes through the park and has a continuous course. However, the models also revealed a scarce resilience of corridor connectivity in the passageways between the park and the Apennines and the Prealps, which suggests that urgent management actions are necessary to ensure the future functionality of this important corridor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Dondina
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Valerio Orioli
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
| | - Elisa Torretta
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Federico Merli
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
| | - Luciano Bani
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
| | - Alberto Meriggi
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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Carlier J, Moran J. Hedgerow typology and condition analysis to inform greenway design in rural landscapes. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2019; 247:790-803. [PMID: 31299555 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.06.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Revised: 06/22/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decades, Western European hedgerows have been declining as a result of land use change. Disused infrastructure corridors such as railways and tramways can host a range of existing and returning semi-natural habitats, including extensive hedgerow networks. However, long term corridor abandonment can result in network deterioration to gappy hedgerows, lines of trees and eventually individual scrub features. The loss of hedgerows results in the loss of many ecosystem services, habitat for species and landscape connectivity. This highlights an increasing need to find innovative solutions to recognise and appropriately maintain these hedgerow networks. European Greenways typically 'upcycle' disused infrastructure transport corridors for multi-use, non-motorised recreational public infrastructure. The potential for European greenways to maintain and restore hedgerows is of interest as a novel planning mechanism for enhancing green infrastructure in general. The aim of this study is to inform Greenway design and management through the evaluation of hedgerow significance (historical, ecological and landscape), condition and composition within a rural European Greenway landscape context. 81 hedgerows were sampled along a 70 km proposed Greenway route traversing a range of extensive and intensive landscapes. Hedgerows were surveyed using a rapid field score sheet which enabled significance and condition scoring. A hedgerow typology was subsequently developed based on species composition assemblages. Hedgerows were found to be highly ecologically significant and species rich throughout the route. On-going land use intensification was evident as significant sections of the former railway corridor were subsumed into intensive agriculture and afforestation. Management recommendations need to be adapted to the particular hedgerow group and surrounding landscape context, and take into account the varied requirements of different taxonomic groups. The study findings show Greenways have the potential to act as multi-functional green infrastructure (accomplishing both ecological and recreational objectives) through informed design to reinforce their nature conservation role and recognising hedgerows as integral landscape feature of Greenway corridor, at local level and as part of a wider European network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Carlier
- Institute of Technology Sligo, Sligo, County Sligo, Ireland.
| | - James Moran
- Institute of Technology Sligo, Sligo, County Sligo, Ireland; Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Old Dublin Rd, Galway, Ireland
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Okamiya H, Kusano T. Effects of landscape features on gene flow among urban frog populations. Ecol Res 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1440-1703.12011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hisanori Okamiya
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Sciences Tokyo Metropolitan University Hachioji‐shi Tokyo Japan
| | - Tamotsu Kusano
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Sciences Tokyo Metropolitan University Hachioji‐shi Tokyo Japan
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Brunke J, Radespiel U, Russo IR, Bruford MW, Goossens B. Messing about on the river: the role of geographic barriers in shaping the genetic structure of Bornean small mammals in a fragmented landscape. CONSERV GENET 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-019-01159-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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Xu Z, Han Y, Zhu C, Chen P, Xu W, Ruan L. Bi-parentally Inherited Genetic Evidence for Male-Biased Dispersal in Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus). Biochem Genet 2018; 57:46-55. [PMID: 30030666 DOI: 10.1007/s10528-018-9873-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2017] [Accepted: 07/10/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Dispersal is a life history trait that has relevant effect on both the dynamics and the genetics of species and sex-biased dispersal depends on how resource competition affects each of the sexes. In this study, a total of 210 blood samples including 121 Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) females and 89 males were collected from 18 diverse areas during the breeding season. Based on 8 microsatellite markers analyses, we found that the most genetic diversities from female populations were higher than those from the males, where only 2 male individuals were identified as the long-distance dispersal. Analyses of sex-biased dispersal conducted over all sampling sites indicated that mAI (female mAI = 0.195, male mAI = - 0.265, P = 0.01), FST (female FST = 0.045, male FST = 0.026, P = 0.020), and r (female r = 0.118, male r = 0.064, P = 0.010) in females were all significantly higher than those in males at the 0.05 level, which suggested a male-biased dispersal pattern in this species. Our Mantel test results suggested a significant isolation-by-distance pattern for females but not for males, which corresponded to the more frequent dispersal and gene flow in males than in females. This dispersal pattern could be explained by the special life history trait and mating system that Common Moorhen pair formation occurs before they leave the flock in the spring to establish territories and its females initiate courtship more frequently than males and compete with each other to pair with small males with large fat reserves. The philopatric female could benefit most from knowledge of a particular area because they may win more intrasexual competitions in the breeding season and be able to produce more offspring if they are familiar with the local resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhifeng Xu
- State Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuqing Han
- State Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, People's Republic of China
| | - Chaoying Zhu
- State Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, People's Republic of China
| | - Peng Chen
- State Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Xu
- State Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, People's Republic of China
| | - Luzhang Ruan
- State Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, People's Republic of China.
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Landscape determinants of genetic differentiation, inbreeding and genetic drift in the hazel dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius). CONSERV GENET 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-017-0999-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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