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McCue D, Mancini C, Liberati MR, Stahl RG. Addressing Uncertainties in Potential Human Dietary Exposure to Mercury in the Watershed of the South River, Virginia, USA. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2023; 42:2237-2252. [PMID: 37314104 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Much has been published about the harmful effects to humans when they are exposed to mercury (Hg) in environmental media including their diet. Numerous health advisories around the world, including for the South River, Virginia, USA, warn against consumption of Hg-contaminated fish species. Fewer studies have focused on other dietary sources of Hg and how to advise humans potentially exposed by this route. In undertaking a human health risk assessment for the former DuPont facility in Waynesboro, Virginia, USA, and the nearby South River and surrounding watershed, the available published information on Hg exposure through dietary consumption of nonfish items proved unsuitable for extrapolation purposes. In response, an evaluation of potential Hg exposure to residents who might consume livestock, poultry, and wildlife raised or collected in the South River watershed was conducted to inform the risk-assessment process. The newly collected data on Hg in these dietary items filled an important data gap, suggesting that there was little concern about limiting dietary consumption for most items. These results were communicated to the public through print and electronic platforms, in the form of "fact sheets." We describe the studies and actions taken to better explain the potential for human exposures to Hg in nonfish dietary items from a portion of the watershed of the South River. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:2237-2252. © 2023 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana McCue
- EHS-Support, Northborough, Massachusetts, USA
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2
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Ladent E, Leriche A, Thomas B, Millon A. Weak evidence of spatial segregation between the vulnerable southern water vole ( Arvicola sapidus) and the two main invasive mammals of European freshwater ecosystems. ECOSCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/11956860.2021.1935583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Ladent
- Groupe Mammalogique Normand, Épaignes, France
- Aix Marseille Univ, Avignon Univ, CNRS, IRD, IMBE, Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, France
| | - Agathe Leriche
- Aix Marseille Univ, Avignon Univ, CNRS, IRD, IMBE, Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, France
| | | | - Alexandre Millon
- Aix Marseille Univ, Avignon Univ, CNRS, IRD, IMBE, Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, France
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Matykiewicz BR, Windels SK, Olson BT, Plumb RT, Wolf TM, Ahlers AA. Assessing translocation effects on the spatial ecology and survival of muskrats Ondatra zibethicus. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.2981/wlb.00823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin R. Matykiewicz
- B. R. Matykiewicz (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3677-576X) ✉ and A. A. Ahlers, Dept of Horticulture and Natural Resources, Kansas State Univ., Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Steve K. Windels
- S. K. Windels, B. T. Olson and R. T. Plumb, National Park Service, Voyageurs National Park, International Falls, Minnesota, USA. BTO also at: Ressurs Consulting LLC, Fertile, Minnesota, USA
| | - Bryce T. Olson
- S. K. Windels, B. T. Olson and R. T. Plumb, National Park Service, Voyageurs National Park, International Falls, Minnesota, USA. BTO also at: Ressurs Consulting LLC, Fertile, Minnesota, USA
| | - Reid T. Plumb
- S. K. Windels, B. T. Olson and R. T. Plumb, National Park Service, Voyageurs National Park, International Falls, Minnesota, USA. BTO also at: Ressurs Consulting LLC, Fertile, Minnesota, USA
| | - Tiffany M. Wolf
- T. M. Wolf, Veterinary Population Medicine Dept, College of Veterinary Medicine, Univ. of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Adam A. Ahlers
- B. R. Matykiewicz (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3677-576X) ✉ and A. A. Ahlers, Dept of Horticulture and Natural Resources, Kansas State Univ., Manhattan, Kansas, USA
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Ganoe LS, Lovallo MJ, Brown JD, Walter WD. Ecology of an Isolated Muskrat Population during Regional Population Declines. Northeast Nat (Steuben) 2021. [DOI: 10.1656/045.028.0104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Laken S. Ganoe
- Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
| | - Matthew J. Lovallo
- Bureau of Wildlife Management, Pennsylvania Game Commission, Harrisburg, PA 17110
| | - Justin D. Brown
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
| | - W. David Walter
- US Geological Survey, Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
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Ahlers AA, Wolf TM, Aarrestad O, Windels SK, Olson BT, Matykiewicz BR, Dubey JP. Survey of Toxoplasma gondii Exposure in Muskrats in a Relatively Pristine Ecosystem. J Parasitol 2020; 106:346-349. [PMID: 32294183 DOI: 10.1645/19-126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Waterborne transmission of Toxoplasma gondii is assumed to be enhanced in areas with human-altered landscapes (e.g., urbanization, agriculture) and increased populations of non-native domestic and feral cats (Felis catus). However, little is known concerning T. gondii exposure risks in more natural watersheds (e.g., reduced human footprint, no domestic or feral cats) to establish a baseline for comparisons. In this study, muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) were used as sentinels to assess baseline T. gondii exposure in a relatively pristine watershed in the Greater Voyageurs Ecosystem, northern Minnesota, during the summers of 2018-2019. Toxoplasma gondii antibodies were assayed in sera of live-trapped muskrats (n = 70) using a modified agglutination test. None of our samples were positive for T. gondii antibodies (P = 0.00, 95% Wald Score Confidence Interval = 0.00-0.05). This study establishes a baseline to compare T. gondii waterborne transmission risks in other human-modified watersheds.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Ahlers
- Kansas State University, Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources, 1712 Claflin Road, Manhattan, Kansas 66506
| | - T M Wolf
- University of Minnesota, Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, 1988 Fitch Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108
| | - O Aarrestad
- University of Minnesota, Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, 1988 Fitch Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108
| | - S K Windels
- United States National Park Service, Voyageurs National Park, 360 Highway 11 East, International Falls, Minnesota 56649
| | - B T Olson
- United States National Park Service, Voyageurs National Park, 360 Highway 11 East, International Falls, Minnesota 56649
| | - B R Matykiewicz
- Kansas State University, Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources, 1712 Claflin Road, Manhattan, Kansas 66506
| | - J P Dubey
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland 20705
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Amuno S, Rudko DA, Gallino D, Tuznik M, Shekh K, Kodzhahinchev V, Niyogi S, Chakravarty MM, Devenyi GA. Altered neurotransmission and neuroimaging biomarkers of chronic arsenic poisoning in wild muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) and red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) breeding near the City of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories (Canada). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 707:135556. [PMID: 31780150 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Revised: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Chronic arsenic poisoning has been shown to be a risk factor for the development of intellectual disability. Numerous human and animal studies have also confirmed that low-level arsenic exposure has deleterious effects on neurotransmission and brain structures which have been further linked to neurobehavioral disorders. The aim of this present work was to comparatively assess structural brain volume changes and alteration of two (2) neurotransmitters, specifically dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) in the brains of wild muskrats and squirrels breeding in arsenic endemic areas, near the vicinity of the abandoned Giant mine site in Yellowknife and in reference locations between 52 and 105 km from the city of Yellowknife. The levels of DA and 5-HT were measured in the brain tissues, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was used to attempt brain volume measurements. The results revealed that the concentrations of DA and 5-HT were slightly increased in the brains of squirrels from the arsenic endemic areas compared to the reference site. Further, DA and 5-HT were slightly reduced in the brains of muskrats from the arsenic endemic areas compared to the reference location. In general, no statistically significant neurotransmission changes and differences were observed in the brain tissues of muskrats and squirrels from both arsenic endemic areas and non-endemic sites. Although MRI results showed that the brain volumes of squirrels and muskrats were not statistically different between sites after multiple comparison correction; it was noted that core brain regions were substantially affected in muskrats, in particular the hippocampal memory circuit, striatum and thalamus. Squirrel brains showed more extensive neuroanatomical changes, likely due to their relatively smaller body mass, with extensive shrinkage of the core brain structures, and the cortex, even after accounting for differences in overall brain size. The results of this present study constitute the first observation of neuroanatomical changes in wild small mammal species breeding in arsenic endemic areas of Canada.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Amuno
- School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
| | - D A Rudko
- Department of Neurology/Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Department of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - D Gallino
- Computational Brain Anatomy Laboratory, Cerebral Imaging Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - M Tuznik
- Department of Neurology/Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - K Shekh
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada; Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - V Kodzhahinchev
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - S Niyogi
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada; Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - M M Chakravarty
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Computational Brain Anatomy Laboratory, Cerebral Imaging Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - G A Devenyi
- Computational Brain Anatomy Laboratory, Cerebral Imaging Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
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Amuno S, Shekh K, Kodzhahinchev V, Niyogi S. Neuropathological changes in wild muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) and red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) breeding in arsenic endemic areas of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories (Canada): Arsenic and cadmium accumulation in the brain and biomarkers of oxidative stress. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 704:135426. [PMID: 31822412 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Revised: 11/03/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The brain is one of the critical organs particularly susceptible to the damaging effects of chronic arsenic poisoning and there is a growing body of evidence that suggest that oxidative stress plays a key role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders. The aim of this present work was to comparatively assess biomarkers of oxidative stress and status of antioxidant enzyme activities in the brains of muskrats and squirrels breeding in arsenic endemic areas, specifically near the vicinity of the abandoned Giant mine site (~2 km radius), and an intermediate location approximately 20 km from the mine area and in reference locations spanning 52-105 km from the city of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories (Canada). Analysis included measurement of total arsenic and cadmium concentration in the nails, brain, and stomach content of muskrats and squirrels, in addition to biochemical evaluation of lipid peroxidation levels and antioxidant enzymes defense: catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in the brain tissues. The results revealed that arsenic concentration in the nails of muskrats collected closest to the vicinity of the mine area was in the range of 11 to 35.1 times higher than those from the reference site. The maximum concentration of arsenic in the nails of muskrats from the intermediate location was 47.6 times higher than the maximum concentration observed in the reference muskrats. Cadmium was generally undetected in the nails of muskrats and squirrels from the three sampling locations. Arsenic in the gut contents of muskrats from the arsenic affected area was 4.5 to 49.1 times higher than those from the reference site. Cadmium levels in the guts of muskrats from the mine area almost doubled those from the reference site. Arsenic accumulated in the nails of squirrels from the areas closest to the mine but was undetected in the squirrel nails from the reference location. The maximum arsenic levels in the stomach content of squirrels from the mine area was ~40 times higher than those from the reference site. Arsenic did not accumulate in the brains of muskrats, but cadmium was detected in a few brains of muskrats. Brains of squirrels from the mine area and intermediate locations accumulated both arsenic and cadmium. The brains of squirrels and muskrats from the arsenic affected area showed no evidence of increased lipid peroxidation compared to the animals from the reference site. However, SOD, CAT and GPx activities in the brains of animals from the arsenic endemic areas tended to be higher compared to the control sites. This is the first study documenting evidence of oxidative stress and altered antioxidant enzyme activities in brains of wild rodent population in arsenic endemic areas of Canada.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Amuno
- School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
| | - K Shekh
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada; Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - V Kodzhahinchev
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - S Niyogi
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada; Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
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Holland AM, Schauber EM, Nielsen CK, Hellgren EC. Stream community richness predicts apex predator occupancy dynamics in riparian systems. OIKOS 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.05085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Angela M. Holland
- Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory; Southern Illinois Univ.; Carbondale IL USA
- Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center; 3988 Jones Center Drive; Newton GA 39870 USA
| | - Eric M. Schauber
- Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory; Southern Illinois Univ.; Carbondale IL USA
| | - Clayton K. Nielsen
- Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory; Southern Illinois Univ.; Carbondale IL USA
| | - Eric C. Hellgren
- Dept of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation; Univ. of Florida; Gainesville FL USA
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Fortin G, Blouin-Demers G, Dubois Y. Landscape composition weakly affects home range size in Blanding's turtles (Emydoidea blandingii). ECOSCIENCE 2015. [DOI: 10.2980/19-3-3528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Haan DM, Halbrook RS. Home Ranges and Movement Characteristics of Minks in East-central New York. AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 2015. [DOI: 10.1674/0003-0031-174.2.302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Ahlers AA, Cotner LA, Wolff PJ, Mitchell MA, Heske EJ, Schooley RL. Summer Precipitation Predicts Spatial Distributions of Semiaquatic Mammals. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0135036. [PMID: 26284916 PMCID: PMC4540445 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0135036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2014] [Accepted: 07/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change is predicted to increase the frequency of droughts and intensity of seasonal precipitation in many regions. Semiaquatic mammals should be vulnerable to this increased variability in precipitation, especially in human-modified landscapes where dispersal to suitable habitat or temporary refugia may be limited. Using six years of presence-absence data (2007–2012) spanning years of record-breaking drought and flood conditions, we evaluated regional occupancy dynamics of American mink (Neovison vison) and muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) in a highly altered agroecosystem in Illinois, USA. We used noninvasive sign surveys and a multiseason occupancy modeling approach to estimate annual occupancy rates for both species and related these rates to summer precipitation. We also tracked radiomarked individuals to assess mortality risk for both species when moving in terrestrial areas. Annual model-averaged estimates of occupancy for mink and muskrat were correlated positively to summer precipitation. Mink and muskrats were widespread during a year (2008) with above-average precipitation. However, estimates of site occupancy declined substantially for mink (0.56) and especially muskrats (0.09) during the severe drought of 2012. Mink are generalist predators that probably use terrestrial habitat during droughts. However, mink had substantially greater risk of mortality away from streams. In comparison, muskrats are more restricted to aquatic habitats and likely suffered high mortality during the drought. Our patterns are striking, but a more mechanistic understanding is needed of how semiaquatic species in human-modified ecosystems will respond ecologically in situ to extreme weather events predicted by climate-change models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam A. Ahlers
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
- Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, Champaign, Illinois, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Lisa A. Cotner
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Patrick J. Wolff
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Mark A. Mitchell
- College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Edward J. Heske
- Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, Champaign, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Robert L. Schooley
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
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Risk Factors for Toxoplasma gondii Exposure in Semiaquatic Mammals in a Freshwater Ecosystem. J Wildl Dis 2015; 51:488-92. [DOI: 10.7589/2014-03-071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Takeuchi-Storm N, Woolsey ID, Jensen PM, Fredensborg BL, Pipper CB, Kapel CMO. Predictors of Echinococcus multilocularis Prevalence in Definitive and Intermediate Hosts: A Meta-Analysis Approach. J Parasitol 2015; 101:297-303. [PMID: 25723380 DOI: 10.1645/14-645.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Echinococcus multilocularis (EM) is a pathogenic and potentially fatal cestode causing human alveolar echinococcosis (AE). A meta-analysis was conducted using a generalized estimation equation approach (GEE) to assess the effect of taxonomic, environmental, and diagnostic variables on EM prevalence in different hosts. Red foxes ( Vulpes vulpes ) had significantly higher prevalence of EM than domestic dogs ( Canis lupus familiaris), with the diagnostic method playing an important factor in assessing prevalence. For intermediate hosts genera was significantly associated with EM prevalence, although there was some indication of publication bias in this dataset. This study also highlights the possible importance of temperature and precipitation to EM transmission. This implies the possibility of a changing climate affecting the future distribution of the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nao Takeuchi-Storm
- Department of Plant and Environmental Science, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsenvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Ian David Woolsey
- Department of Plant and Environmental Science, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsenvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Per Moestrup Jensen
- Department of Plant and Environmental Science, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsenvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Brian Lund Fredensborg
- Department of Plant and Environmental Science, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsenvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Christian Bressen Pipper
- Department of Plant and Environmental Science, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsenvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Christian Moliin Outzen Kapel
- Department of Plant and Environmental Science, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsenvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
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Kanda L, Hatzel J. Individuality in captive and field measures of behavior and space use in wild muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus). ETHOL ECOL EVOL 2014. [DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2014.928653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Laurence S, Smith MJ, Schulte-Hostedde AI. Effects of structural connectivity on fine scale population genetic structure of muskrat, Ondatra zibethicus. Ecol Evol 2013; 3:3524-35. [PMID: 24223287 PMCID: PMC3797496 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2013] [Revised: 07/21/2013] [Accepted: 07/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
In heterogeneous landscapes, physical barriers and loss of structural connectivity have been shown to reduce gene flow and therefore lead to population structuring. In this study, we assessed the influence of landscape features on population genetic structure and gene flow of a semiaquatic species, the muskrat. A total of 97 muskrats were sampled from three watersheds near Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. We estimated population genetic structure using 11 microsatellite loci and identified a single genetic cluster and no genetic differences were found among the watersheds as a result of high levels of gene flow. At finer scales, we assessed the correlation between individual pairwise genetic distances and Euclidean distance as well as different models of least cost path (LCP). We used a range of cost values for the landscape types in order to build our LCP models. We found a positive relationship between genetic distance and least cost distance when we considered roads as corridors for movements. Open landscapes and urban areas seemed to restrict but not prevent gene flow within the study area. Our study underlines the high-dispersal ability of generalist species in their use of landscape and highlights how landscape features often considered barriers to animal movements are corridors for other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Laurence
- Department of Biology, Laurentian University 935 Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury, Ontario, P3E 2C6, Canada
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Cotner LA, Schooley RL. Habitat occupancy by riparian muskrats reveals tolerance to urbanization and invasive vegetation. J Wildl Manage 2011. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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