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Armaroli E, Lugli F, Cipriani A, Tütken T. Spatial ecology of moose in Sweden: Combined Sr-O-C isotope analyses of bone and antler. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0300867. [PMID: 38598461 PMCID: PMC11006136 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The study of spatial (paleo)ecology in mammals is critical to understand how animals adapt to and exploit their environment. In this work we analysed the 87Sr/86Sr, δ18O and δ13C isotope composition of 65 moose bone and antler samples from Sweden from wild-shot individuals dated between 1800 and 1994 to study moose mobility and feeding behaviour for (paleo)ecological applications. Sr data were compared with isoscapes of the Scandinavian region, built ad-hoc during this study, to understand how moose utilise the landscape in Northern Europe. The 87Sr/86Sr isoscape was developed using a machine-learning approach with external geo-environmental predictors and literature data. Similarly, a δ18O isoscape, obtained from average annual precipitation δ18O values, was employed to highlight differences in the isotope composition of the local environment vs. bone/antler. Overall, 82% of the moose samples were compatible with the likely local isotope composition (n = 53), suggesting that they were shot not far from their year-round dwelling area. 'Local' samples were used to calibrate the two isoscapes, to improve the prediction of provenance for the presumably 'non-local' individuals. For the latter (n = 12, of which two are antlers and ten are bones), the probability of geographic origin was estimated using a Bayesian approach by combining the two isoscapes. Interestingly, two of these samples (one antler and one bone) seem to come from areas more than 250 km away from the place where the animals were hunted, indicating a possible remarkable intra-annual mobility. Finally, the δ13C data were compared with the forest cover of Sweden and ultimately used to understand the dietary preference of moose. We interpreted a difference in δ13C values of antlers (13C-enriched) and bones (13C-depleted) as a joint effect of seasonal variations in moose diet and, possibly, physiological stresses during winter-time, i.e., increased consumption of endogenous 13C-depleted lipids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Armaroli
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Federico Lugli
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- Institut für Geowissenschaften, Goethe Universität Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Anna Cipriani
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, Palisades, NY, United States of America
| | - Thomas Tütken
- Arbeitsgruppe für Angewandte und Analytische Paläontologie, Institut für Geowissenschaften, Johannes Gutenberg–Universität Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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2
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Dussex N, Kurland S, Olsen RA, Spong G, Ericsson G, Ekblom R, Ryman N, Dalén L, Laikre L. Range-wide and temporal genomic analyses reveal the consequences of near-extinction in Swedish moose. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1035. [PMID: 37848497 PMCID: PMC10582009 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05385-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Ungulate species have experienced severe declines over the past centuries through overharvesting and habitat loss. Even if many game species have recovered thanks to strict hunting regulation, the genome-wide impacts of overharvesting are still unclear. Here, we examine the temporal and geographical differences in genome-wide diversity in moose (Alces alces) over its whole range in Sweden by sequencing 87 modern and historical genomes. We found limited impact of the 1900s near-extinction event but local variation in inbreeding and load in modern populations, as well as suggestion of a risk of future reduction in genetic diversity and gene flow. Furthermore, we found candidate genes for local adaptation, and rapid temporal allele frequency shifts involving coding genes since the 1980s, possibly due to selective harvesting. Our results highlight that genomic changes potentially impacting fitness can occur over short time scales and underline the need to track both deleterious and selectively advantageous genomic variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Dussex
- Centre for Palaeogenetics, Svante Arrhenius väg 20C, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Department of Zoology, Division of Population Genetics, Stockholm University, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, SE-104 05, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology, University Museum, Trondheim, NO-7491, Norway.
| | - Sara Kurland
- Department of Zoology, Division of Population Genetics, Stockholm University, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Remi-André Olsen
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, SE-171 21, Solna, Sweden
| | - Göran Spong
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-901 83, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Göran Ericsson
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-901 83, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Robert Ekblom
- Wildlife Analysis Unit, Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, SE-106 48, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nils Ryman
- Department of Zoology, Division of Population Genetics, Stockholm University, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Love Dalén
- Centre for Palaeogenetics, Svante Arrhenius väg 20C, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Zoology, Division of Population Genetics, Stockholm University, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, SE-104 05, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Linda Laikre
- Department of Zoology, Division of Population Genetics, Stockholm University, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Bluhm H, Diserens TA, Engleder T, Heising K, Heurich M, Janík T, Jirků M, Klich D, König HJ, Kowalczyk R, Kuijper D, Maślanko W, Michler F, Neumann W, Oeser J, Olech W, Perzanowski K, Ratkiewicz M, Romportl D, Šálek M, Kuemmerle T. Widespread habitat for Europe's largest herbivores, but poor connectivity limits recolonization. DIVERS DISTRIB 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hendrik Bluhm
- Geography Department Humboldt‐Universität zu Berlin Berlin Germany
| | - Tom A. Diserens
- Mammal Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences Białowieża Poland
- Faculty of Biology University of Warsaw Warsaw Poland
| | | | - Kaja Heising
- Wisent‐Welt Wittgenstein e.V Bad Berleburg Germany
| | - Marco Heurich
- Chair of Wildlife Ecology and Wildlife Management University of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
- Department of Visitor Management and National Park Monitoring Bavarian Forest National Park Grafenau Germany
- Institute for Forest and Wildlife Management Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences Koppang Norway
| | - Tomáš Janík
- Department of Physical Geography and Geoecology, Faculty of Science Charles University Praha Czechia
- Department of Spatial Ecology The Silva Tarouca Research Institute for Landscape and Ornamental Gardening (VÚKOZ) Průhonice Czechia
| | - Miloslav Jirků
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre Czech Academy of Sciences České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Klich
- Department of Animal Genetics and Conservation Warsaw University of Life Sciences Warsaw Poland
| | - Hannes J. König
- Junior Research Group Human‐Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) Müncheberg Germany
| | - Rafał Kowalczyk
- Mammal Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences Białowieża Poland
| | - Dries Kuijper
- Mammal Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences Białowieża Poland
| | - Weronika Maślanko
- Department of Animal Ethology and Wildlife Management University of Life Sciences in Lublin Lublin Poland
| | - Frank‐Uwe Michler
- Faculty of Forest and Environment Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development Eberswalde Germany
| | - Wiebke Neumann
- Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
| | - Julian Oeser
- Geography Department Humboldt‐Universität zu Berlin Berlin Germany
| | - Wanda Olech
- Department of Animal Genetics and Conservation Warsaw University of Life Sciences Warsaw Poland
| | - Kajetan Perzanowski
- Institute of Biological Sciences Catholic University of Lublin Lublin Poland
| | | | - Dušan Romportl
- Department of Physical Geography and Geoecology, Faculty of Science Charles University Praha Czechia
- Department of Spatial Ecology The Silva Tarouca Research Institute for Landscape and Ornamental Gardening (VÚKOZ) Průhonice Czechia
| | - Martin Šálek
- Czech Academy of Sciences Institute of Vertebrate Biology Brno Czech Republic
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences Czech University of Life Sciences Prague Suchdol Czech Republic
| | - Tobias Kuemmerle
- Geography Department Humboldt‐Universität zu Berlin Berlin Germany
- Integrative Research Institute on Transformation in Human‐Environment Systems (IRI THESys) Humboldt‐Universität zu Berlin Berlin Germany
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Hofman-Kamińska E, Bocherens H, Drucker DG, Fyfe RM, Gumiński W, Makowiecki D, Pacher M, Piličiauskienė G, Samojlik T, Woodbridge J, Kowalczyk R. Adapt or die-Response of large herbivores to environmental changes in Europe during the Holocene. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2019; 25:2915-2930. [PMID: 31298814 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Revised: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 05/19/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Climate warming and human landscape transformation during the Holocene resulted in environmental changes for wild animals. The last remnants of the European Pleistocene megafauna that survived into the Holocene were particularly vulnerable to changes in habitat. To track the response of habitat use and foraging of large herbivores to natural and anthropogenic changes in environmental conditions during the Holocene, we investigated carbon (δ13 C) and nitrogen (δ15 N) stable isotope composition in bone collagen of moose (Alces alces), European bison (Bison bonasus) and aurochs (Bos primigenius) in Central and Eastern Europe. We found strong variations in isotope compositions in the studied species throughout the Holocene and diverse responses to changing environmental conditions. All three species showed significant changes in their δ13 C values reflecting a shift of foraging habitats from more open in the Early and pre-Neolithic Holocene to more forest during the Neolithic and Late Holocene. This shift was strongest in European bison, suggesting higher plasticity, more limited in moose, and the least in aurochs. Significant increases of δ15 N values in European bison and moose are evidence of a diet change towards more grazing, but may also reflect increased nitrogen in soils following deglaciation and global temperature increases. Among the factors explaining the observed isotope variations were time (age of samples), longitude and elevation in European bison, and time, longitude and forest cover in aurochs. None of the analysed factors explained isotope variations in moose. Our results demonstrate the strong influence of natural (forest expansion) and anthropogenic (deforestation and human pressure) changes on the foraging ecology of large herbivores, with forests playing a major role as a refugial habitat since the Neolithic, particularly for European bison and aurochs. We propose that high flexibility in foraging strategy was the key for survival of large herbivores in the changing environmental conditions of the Holocene.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hervé Bocherens
- Department of Geosciences, Research Area Paleobiology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment (HEP), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Dorothée G Drucker
- Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment (HEP), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ralph M Fyfe
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | - Witold Gumiński
- The Institute of Archaeology, Warsaw University, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Daniel Makowiecki
- Institute of Archaeology, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń, Poland
| | - Martina Pacher
- Institut für Paläontologie, Universität Wien, Geozentrum, UZA II, Wien, Austria
| | | | - Tomasz Samojlik
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Białowieża, Poland
| | - Jessie Woodbridge
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | - Rafał Kowalczyk
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Białowieża, Poland
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Stojak J, Tarnowska E. Polish suture zone as the goblet of truth in post-glacial history of mammals in Europe. MAMMAL RES 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-019-00433-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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Sattler RL, Willoughby JR, Swanson BJ. Decline of heterozygosity in a large but isolated population: a 45-year examination of moose genetic diversity on Isle Royale. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3584. [PMID: 28729957 PMCID: PMC5516768 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Wildlife conservation and management approaches typically focus on demographic measurements to assess population viability over both short and long periods. However, genetic diversity is an important predictor of long term population vitality. We investigated the pattern of change in genetic diversity in a large and likely isolated moose (Alces alces) population on Isle Royale (Lake Superior) from 1960–2005. We characterized samples, partitioned into five different 5-year periods, using nine microsatellite loci and a portion of the mtDNA control region. We also simulated the moose population to generate a theoretical backdrop of genetic diversity change. In the empirical data, we found that the number of alleles was consistently low and that observed heterozygosity notably declined from 1960 to 2005 (p = 0.08, R2 = 0.70). Furthermore, inbreeding coefficients approximately doubled from 0.08 in 1960–65 to 0.16 in 2000–05. Finally, we found that the empirical rate of observed heterozygosity decline was faster than the rate of observed heterozygosity loss in our simulations. Combined, these data suggest that genetic drift and inbreeding occurred in the Isle Royale moose populations over the study period, leading to significant losses in heterozygosity. Although inbreeding can be mitigated by migration, we found no evidence to support the occurrence of recent migrants into the population using analysis of our mtDNA haplotypes nor microsatellite data. Therefore, the Isle Royale moose population illustrates that even large populations are subjected to inbreeding in the absence of migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renae L Sattler
- Department of Biology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States of America.,Alaska SeaLife Center, Seward, AK, United States of America
| | - Janna R Willoughby
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States of America
| | - Bradley J Swanson
- Department of Biology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States of America
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7
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Phylogeography of European moose (Alces alces) based on contemporary mtDNA data and archaeological records. Mamm Biol 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2017.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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8
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Kloch A, Mierzejewska EJ, Karbowiak G, Slivinska K, Alsarraf M, Rodo A, Kowalec M, Dwużnik D, Didyk YM, Bajer A. Origins of recently emerged foci of the tick Dermacentor reticulatus in central Europe inferred from molecular markers. Vet Parasitol 2017; 237:63-69. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2017.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2016] [Revised: 02/15/2017] [Accepted: 02/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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