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Molinari-Jobin A, Zimmermann F, Borel S, Le Grand L, Iannino E, Anders O, Belotti E, Bufka L, Ćirović D, Drouet-Hoguet N, Engleder T, Figura M, Fuxjäger C, Gregorova E, Heurich M, Idelberger S, Kubala J, Kusak J, Melovski D, Middelhoff TL, Mináriková T, Molinari P, Mouzon-Moyne L, Moyne G, Mysłajek RW, Nowak S, Ozolins J, Ryser A, Sanaja B, Shkvyria M, Sin T, Sindičić M, Slijepčević V, Stauffer C, Tám B, Trajce A, Volfová J, Wölfl S, Zlatanova D, Vogt K. Rehabilitation and release of orphaned Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in Europe: Implications for management and conservation. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0297789. [PMID: 38452124 PMCID: PMC10919842 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Rehabilitation of injured or immature individuals has become an increasingly used conservation and management tool. However, scientific evaluation of rehabilitations is rare, raising concern about post-release welfare as well as the cost-effectiveness of spending scarce financial resources. Over the past 20 years, events of juvenile Eurasian lynx presumably orphaned have been observed in many European lynx populations. To guide the management of orphaned lynx, we documented survival, rehabilitation and fate after the release and evaluated the potential relevance of lynx orphan rehabilitation for population management and conservation implications. Data on 320 orphaned lynx was collected from 1975 to 2022 from 13 countries and nine populations. The majority of orphaned lynx (55%) were taken to rehabilitation centres or other enclosures. A total of 66 orphans were released back to nature. The portion of rehabilitated lynx who survived at least one year after release was 0.66. Release location was the best predictor for their survival. Of the 66 released lynx, ten have reproduced at least once (8 females and 2 males). Conservation implications of rehabilitation programmes include managing genetic diversity in small, isolated populations and reintroducing species to historical habitats. The lynx is a perfect model species as most reintroduced populations in Central Europe show significantly lower observed heterozygosity than most of the autochthonous populations, indicating that reintroduction bottlenecks, isolation and post-release management have long-term consequences on the genetic composition of populations. The release of translocated orphans could be a valuable contribution to Eurasian lynx conservation in Europe. It is recommended to release orphans at the distribution edge or in the frame of reintroduction projects instead of a release in the core area of a population where it is not necessary from a demographic and genetic point of view. Rehabilitation programmes can have conservation implications that extend far beyond individual welfare benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fridolin Zimmermann
- Stiftung KORA, Ittigen, Switzerland
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Stéphanie Borel
- Vetsuisse Faculty, Departement of Infectious diseases and Pathobiology, Institute for Fish and Wildlife Health, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Ole Anders
- Harz National Park, Wernigerode, Germany
| | - Elisa Belotti
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Nature Protection, Šumava National Park Administration, Kašperské Hory, Czech Republic
| | - Ludek Bufka
- Department of Nature Protection, Šumava National Park Administration, Kašperské Hory, Czech Republic
| | - Duško Ćirović
- Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Thomas Engleder
- Green Heart of Europe, Lynx Project Austria Northwest, Haslach an der Mühl, Austria
| | - Michał Figura
- Association for Nature "Wolf", Twardorzeczka, Poland
- Faculty of Biology, Department of Ecology, Institute of Functional Biology and Ecology, University of Warsaw, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Warszawa, Poland
| | | | | | - Marco Heurich
- Institute for Forest and Wildlife Management, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Koppang, Norway
- Wildlife Ecology and Wildlife Management, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Jakub Kubala
- Faculty of Forestry, Department of Applied Zoology and Wildlife Management, Technical University in Zvolen, Zvolen, Slovakia
- DIANA–Carpathian Wildlife Research, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
| | - Josip Kusak
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department Veterinary Biology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Dime Melovski
- Macedonian Ecological Society, Skopje, North Macedonia
| | | | - Tereza Mináriková
- ALKA Wildlife, Dačice, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | | | - Gilles Moyne
- Centre Athenas Wildlife Rescue Center, L’étoile, France
| | - Robert W. Mysłajek
- Association for Nature "Wolf", Twardorzeczka, Poland
- Faculty of Biology, Department of Ecology, Institute of Functional Biology and Ecology, University of Warsaw, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Warszawa, Poland
| | - Sabina Nowak
- Association for Nature "Wolf", Twardorzeczka, Poland
- Faculty of Biology, Department of Ecology, Institute of Functional Biology and Ecology, University of Warsaw, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Warszawa, Poland
| | - Janis Ozolins
- Latvian State Forest Research Institute ‘‘Silava”, Salaspils, Latvia
| | | | - Bardh Sanaja
- Environmentally Responsible Action ERA, Peja, Kosovo
| | | | - Teodora Sin
- Association for the Conservation of Biological Diversity, Focsani, Romania
| | - Magda Sindičić
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department for Game and Wildlife, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Vedran Slijepčević
- Department of Wildlife Management and Nature Protection, Karlovac University of Applied Sciences, Karlovac, Croatia
| | | | - Branislav Tám
- Bojnice Zoological Garden, Bojnice, Slovakia
- Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Resources, Department of Small Animal Science, Slovak University of Agriculture, Nitra, Slovakia
| | - Aleksander Trajce
- Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania, Tirana, Albania
| | - Josefa Volfová
- Department of Nature Protection, Šumava National Park Administration, Kašperské Hory, Czech Republic
- Friends of the Earth Czech Republic—Carnivore Conservation Programme, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Sybille Wölfl
- WildLink Institute, Association Lynx Bavaria, Waldmünchen, Germany
| | - Diana Zlatanova
- Faculty of Biology, Department of Zoology and Anthropology, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", Sofia, Bulgaria
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Bazzicalupo E, Ratkiewicz M, Seryodkin IV, Okhlopkov I, Galsandorj N, Yarovenko YA, Ozolins J, Saveljev AP, Melovski D, Gavashelishvili A, Schmidt K, Godoy JA. Genome-environment association analyses reveal geographically restricted adaptive divergence across the range of the widespread Eurasian carnivore Lynx lynx (Linnaeus, 1758). Evol Appl 2023; 16:1773-1788. [PMID: 38029067 PMCID: PMC10681490 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Local adaptations to the environment are an important aspect of the diversity of a species and their discovery, description and quantification has important implications for the fields of taxonomy, evolutionary and conservation biology. In this study, we scan genomes from several populations across the distributional range of the Eurasian lynx, with the objective of finding genomic windows under positive selection which may underlie local adaptations to different environments. A total of 394 genomic windows are found to be associated to local environmental conditions, and they are enriched for genes involved in metabolism, behaviour, synaptic organization and neural development. Adaptive genetic structure, reconstructed from SNPs in candidate windows, is considerably different than the neutral genetic structure of the species. A widespread adaptively homogeneous group is recovered occupying areas of harsher snow and temperature climatic conditions in the north-western, central and eastern parts of the distribution. Adaptively divergent populations are recovered in the westernmost part of the range, especially within the Baltic population, but also predicted for different patches in the western and southern part of the range, associated with different snow and temperature regimes. Adaptive differentiation driven by climate does not correlate much with the subspecies taxonomic delimitations, suggesting that subspecific divergences are mostly driven by neutral processes of genetic drift and gene flow. Our results will aid the selection of source populations for assisted gene flow or genetic rescue programs by identifying what climatic patterns to look for as predictors of pre-adaptation of individuals. Particularly, the Carpathian population is confirmed as the best source of individuals for the genetic rescue of the endangered, isolated and genetically eroded Balkan population. Additionally, reintroductions in central and western Europe, currently based mostly on Carpathian lynxes, could consider the Baltic population as an additional source to increase adaptive variation and likely improve adaptation to their milder climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Bazzicalupo
- Department of Ecology and EvolutionEstación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC)SevilleSpain
| | | | - Ivan V. Seryodkin
- Laboratory of Ecology and Conservation of AnimalsPacific Institute of Geography of Far East Branch of Russian Academy of SciencesVladivostokRussia
| | - Innokentiy Okhlopkov
- Institute for Biological Problems of CryolithozoneSiberian Branch of the Russian Academy of SciencesYakutskRussia
| | | | - Yuriy A. Yarovenko
- Pre‐Caspian Institute of Biological ResourcesDagestan Federal Scientific Centre of RASMakhachkalaRussia
| | - Janis Ozolins
- Department of Hunting and Wildlife ManagementLatvijas Valsts mežzinātnes institūts "Silava"SalaspilsLatvia
| | - Alexander P. Saveljev
- Department of Animal EcologyRussian Research Institute of Game Management and Fur FarmingKirovRussia
| | - Dime Melovski
- Macedonian Ecological Society (MES)SkopjeNorth Macedonia
| | | | | | - José A. Godoy
- Department of Ecology and EvolutionEstación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC)SevilleSpain
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3
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van Beeck Calkoen STS, Mühlbauer L, Andrén H, Apollonio M, Balčiauskas L, Belotti E, Carranza J, Cottam J, Filli F, Gatiso TT, Hetherington D, Karamanlidis AA, Krofel M, Kuehl HS, Linnell JDC, Müller J, Ozolins J, Premier J, Ranc N, Schmidt K, Zlatanova D, Bachmann M, Fonseca C, Lonescu O, Nyman M, Šprem N, Sunde P, Tannik M, Heurich M. Ungulate management in European national parks: Why a more integrated European policy is needed. J Environ Manage 2020; 260:110068. [PMID: 32090812 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Revised: 11/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
1. Primary objectives of national parks usually include both, the protection of natural processes and species conservation. When these objectives conflict, as occurs because of the cascading effects of large mammals (i.e., ungulates and large carnivores) on lower trophic levels, park managers have to decide upon the appropriate management while considering various local circumstances. 2. To analyse if ungulate management strategies are in accordance with the objectives defined for protected areas, we assessed the current status of ungulate management across European national parks using the naturalness concept and identified the variables that influence the management. 3. We collected data on ungulate management from 209 European national parks in 29 countries by means of a large-scale questionnaire survey. Ungulate management in the parks was compared by creating two naturalness scores. The first score reflects ungulate and large carnivore species compositions, and the second evaluates human intervention on ungulate populations. We then tested whether the two naturalness score categories are influenced by the management objectives, park size, years since establishment, percentage of government-owned land, and human impact on the environment (human influence index) using two generalized additive mixed models. 4. In 67.9% of the national parks, wildlife is regulated by culling (40.2%) or hunting (10.5%) or both (17.2%). Artificial feeding occurred in 81.3% of the national parks and only 28.5% of the national parks had a non-intervention zone covering at least 75% of the area. Furthermore, ungulate management differed greatly among the different countries, likely because of differences in hunting traditions and cultural and political backgrounds. Ungulate management was also influenced by park size, human impact on the landscape, and national park objectives, but after removing these variables from the full model the reduced models only showed a small change in the deviance explained. In areas with higher anthropogenic pressure, wildlife diversity tended to be lower and a higher number of domesticated species tended to be present. Human intervention (culling and artificial feeding) was lower in smaller national parks and when park objectives followed those set by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). 5. Our study shows that many European national parks do not fulfil the aims of protected area management as set by IUCN guidelines. In contrast to the USA and Canada, Europe currently has no common ungulate management policy within national parks. This lack of a common policy together with differences in species composition, hunting traditions, and cultural or political context has led to differences in ungulate management among European countries. To fulfil the aims and objectives of national parks and to develop ungulate management strategies further, we highlight the importance of creating a more integrated European ungulate management policy to meet the aims of national parks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne T S van Beeck Calkoen
- Department of Visitor Management and National Park Monitoring, Bavarian Forest National Park, Freyunger Straβe 2, 94481, Grafenau, Germany; Chair of Wildlife Ecology and Management, Albert Ludwigs University Freiburg, Tennenbacher Straβe 4, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Lisa Mühlbauer
- Department of Forestry, Hochschule Weihenstephan-Triesdorf, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 3, 85354, Freising, Germany
| | - Henrik Andrén
- Grimsö Wildlife Research Station, Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 73091, Riddarhyttan, Sweden
| | - Marco Apollonio
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100, Sassari, Italy
| | | | - Elisa Belotti
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 1176, 16521, Prague, Czech Republic; Department of Research and Nature Protection, Šumava National Park and PLA Administration, Sušická 399, 34192, Kašperské Hory, Czech Republic
| | - Juan Carranza
- Ungulate Research Unit, Cátedra de Recursos Cinegéticos y Piscícolas (CRCP), Universidad de Córdoba, 14071, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Jamie Cottam
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Resource Ecology Group, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3a, 6708 PB, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Flurin Filli
- Swiss National Park, Chastè Planta-Wildenberg, 7530, Zernez, Switzerland
| | - Tsegaye T Gatiso
- Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - David Hetherington
- Cairngorms National Park Authority, 14 The Square, Grantown on Spey, PH26 3HG, UK
| | - Alexandros A Karamanlidis
- ARCTUROS, Civil Society for the Protection and Management of Wildlife and the Natural Environment, Aetos, 53075, Florina, Greece; Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Universiteitstunet 3, 1433, Ås, Norway
| | - Miha Krofel
- Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Hjalmar S Kuehl
- Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - John D C Linnell
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, PO Box 5685 Torgard, 7485, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Jörg Müller
- Department of Conservation and Research, Bavarian Forest National Park, Freyunger Straβe 2, 94481, Grafenau, Germany; Chair of Zoology III, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Janis Ozolins
- Latvian State Forest Research Institute SILAVA, Rīgas iela 111, 2169, Salaspils, Latvia
| | - Joseph Premier
- Department of Visitor Management and National Park Monitoring, Bavarian Forest National Park, Freyunger Straβe 2, 94481, Grafenau, Germany; Chair of Wildlife Ecology and Management, Albert Ludwigs University Freiburg, Tennenbacher Straβe 4, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Nathan Ranc
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA; Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via Edmund Mach 1, 38010, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
| | - Krzysztof Schmidt
- Mammal Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences, Stoczek 1, 17-230, Białowieża, Poland
| | - Diana Zlatanova
- Department of Zoology and Anthropology, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, bul. Tsar Osvoboditel 15, 1164, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Mona Bachmann
- Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103, Leipzig, Germany; German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103, Leipzig, Germany; Department of Geography, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Humboldt University, Unter den Linden 6, 10099, Berlin, Germany
| | - Carlos Fonseca
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Ovidiu Lonescu
- Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Silviculture and Forest Engineering, Transilvania University, 1 Beethoven Lane, 500123, Brașov, Romania; Forest Research Institute (ICAS), Bulevardul Eroilor Number 128, Voluntari, Ilfov, 077190, Romania
| | - Madeleine Nyman
- Metsähallitus, Parks and Wildlife Finland, Lars Sonckin kaari 14, 02600, Espoo, Finland
| | - Nikica Šprem
- Department of Fisheries, Beekeeping, Game Management and Special Zoology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska cesta 25, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Peter Sunde
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Kalø, Grenåvej 14, 8410, Rønde, Denmark
| | - Margo Tannik
- The Environmental Board, Narva maantee 7a, 15172, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Marco Heurich
- Department of Visitor Management and National Park Monitoring, Bavarian Forest National Park, Freyunger Straβe 2, 94481, Grafenau, Germany; Chair of Wildlife Ecology and Management, Albert Ludwigs University Freiburg, Tennenbacher Straβe 4, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
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4
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Lucena-Perez M, Marmesat E, Kleinman-Ruiz D, Martínez-Cruz B, Węcek K, Saveljev AP, Seryodkin IV, Okhlopkov I, Dvornikov MG, Ozolins J, Galsandorj N, Paunovic M, Ratkiewicz M, Schmidt K, Godoy JA. Genomic patterns in the widespread Eurasian lynx shaped by Late Quaternary climatic fluctuations and anthropogenic impacts. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:812-828. [PMID: 31995648 PMCID: PMC7064982 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Revised: 12/27/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Disentangling the contribution of long-term evolutionary processes and recent anthropogenic impacts to current genetic patterns of wildlife species is key to assessing genetic risks and designing conservation strategies. Here, we used 80 whole nuclear genomes and 96 mitogenomes from populations of the Eurasian lynx covering a range of conservation statuses, climatic zones and subspecies across Eurasia to infer the demographic history, reconstruct genetic patterns, and discuss the influence of long-term isolation and/or more recent human-driven changes. Our results show that Eurasian lynx populations shared a common history until 100,000 years ago, when Asian and European populations started to diverge and both entered a period of continuous and widespread decline, with western populations, except Kirov, maintaining lower effective sizes than eastern populations. Population declines and increased isolation in more recent times probably drove the genetic differentiation between geographically and ecologically close westernmost European populations. By contrast, and despite the wide range of habitats covered, populations are quite homogeneous genetically across the Asian range, showing a pattern of isolation by distance and providing little genetic support for the several proposed subspecies. Mitogenomic and nuclear divergences and population declines starting during the Late Pleistocene can be mostly attributed to climatic fluctuations and early human influence, but the widespread and sustained decline since the Holocene is more probably the consequence of anthropogenic impacts which intensified in recent centuries, especially in western Europe. Genetic erosion in isolated European populations and lack of evidence for long-term isolation argue for the restoration of lost population connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Lucena-Perez
- Department of Integrative Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Seville, Spain
| | - Elena Marmesat
- Department of Integrative Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Seville, Spain
| | - Daniel Kleinman-Ruiz
- Department of Integrative Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Seville, Spain
| | - Begoña Martínez-Cruz
- School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Karolina Węcek
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Białowieża, Poland
| | - Alexander P Saveljev
- Department of Animal Ecology, Russian Research Institute of Game Management and Fur Farming, Kirov, Russia.,Biological Faculty of Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ivan V Seryodkin
- Laboratory of Ecology and Conservation of Animals, Pacific Institute of Geography of Far East Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, Russia.,Far Eastern Federal University, Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Innokentiy Okhlopkov
- Institute for Biological Problems of Cryolithozone, Siberian Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Yakutsk, Russia
| | - Mikhail G Dvornikov
- Department of Hunting Resources, Russian Research Institute of Game Management and Fur Farming, Kirov, Russia
| | - Janis Ozolins
- Department of Hunting and Wildlife Management, Latvijas Valsts mežzinātnes institūts "Silava", Salaspils, Latvia
| | - Naranbaatar Galsandorj
- Institute of General and Experimental Biology, Mongolian Academy of Science, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
| | | | | | - Krzysztof Schmidt
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Białowieża, Poland
| | - José A Godoy
- Department of Integrative Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Seville, Spain
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5
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Hindrikson M, Remm J, Pilot M, Godinho R, Stronen AV, Baltrūnaité L, Czarnomska SD, Leonard JA, Randi E, Nowak C, Åkesson M, López-Bao JV, Álvares F, Llaneza L, Echegaray J, Vilà C, Ozolins J, Rungis D, Aspi J, Paule L, Skrbinšek T, Saarma U. Wolf population genetics in Europe: a systematic review, meta-analysis and suggestions for conservation and management. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2016; 92:1601-1629. [PMID: 27682639 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2016] [Revised: 08/01/2016] [Accepted: 08/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The grey wolf (Canis lupus) is an iconic large carnivore that has increasingly been recognized as an apex predator with intrinsic value and a keystone species. However, wolves have also long represented a primary source of human-carnivore conflict, which has led to long-term persecution of wolves, resulting in a significant decrease in their numbers, genetic diversity and gene flow between populations. For more effective protection and management of wolf populations in Europe, robust scientific evidence is crucial. This review serves as an analytical summary of the main findings from wolf population genetic studies in Europe, covering major studies from the 'pre-genomic era' and the first insights of the 'genomics era'. We analyse, summarize and discuss findings derived from analyses of three compartments of the mammalian genome with different inheritance modes: maternal (mitochondrial DNA), paternal (Y chromosome) and biparental [autosomal microsatellites and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)]. To describe large-scale trends and patterns of genetic variation in European wolf populations, we conducted a meta-analysis based on the results of previous microsatellite studies and also included new data, covering all 19 European countries for which wolf genetic information is available: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Belarus, Russia, Italy, Croatia, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Spain and Portugal. We compared different indices of genetic diversity in wolf populations and found a significant spatial trend in heterozygosity across Europe from south-west (lowest genetic diversity) to north-east (highest). The range of spatial autocorrelation calculated on the basis of three characteristics of genetic diversity was 650-850 km, suggesting that the genetic diversity of a given wolf population can be influenced by populations up to 850 km away. As an important outcome of this synthesis, we discuss the most pressing issues threatening wolf populations in Europe, highlight important gaps in current knowledge, suggest solutions to overcome these limitations, and provide recommendations for science-based wolf conservation and management at regional and Europe-wide scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maris Hindrikson
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, 51014, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Jaanus Remm
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, 51014, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Malgorzata Pilot
- School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Green Lane, LN6 7DL, Lincoln, UK
| | - Raquel Godinho
- CIBIO/InBio - Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
| | - Astrid Vik Stronen
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Section of Biology and Environmental Science, Aalborg University, Fredrik Bajers Vej 7H, DK-9220, Aalborg Øst, Denmark
| | - Laima Baltrūnaité
- Laboratory of Mammalian Biology, Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Sylwia D Czarnomska
- Mammal Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences, Waszkiewicza 1, 17-230, Białowieża, Poland
| | - Jennifer A Leonard
- Department of Integrative Ecology, Conservation and Evolutionary Genetics Group, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Avd. Americo Vespucio s/n, 41092, Seville, Spain
| | - Ettore Randi
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Section of Biology and Environmental Science, Aalborg University, Fredrik Bajers Vej 7H, DK-9220, Aalborg Øst, Denmark
- Laboratorio di Genetica, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), 40064, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Carsten Nowak
- Conservation Genetics Group, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Clamecystrasse 12, 63571, Gelnhausen, Germany
| | - Mikael Åkesson
- Department of Ecology, Grimsö Wildlife Research Station, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-730 91, Riddarhyttan, Sweden
| | | | - Francisco Álvares
- CIBIO/InBio - Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Luis Llaneza
- ARENA Asesores en Recursos Naturales S.L. c/Perpetuo Socorro, n° 12 Entlo 2B, 27003, Lugo, Spain
| | - Jorge Echegaray
- Department of Integrative Ecology, Conservation and Evolutionary Genetics Group, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Avd. Americo Vespucio s/n, 41092, Seville, Spain
| | - Carles Vilà
- Department of Integrative Ecology, Conservation and Evolutionary Genetics Group, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Avd. Americo Vespucio s/n, 41092, Seville, Spain
| | - Janis Ozolins
- Latvian State Forest Research Institute "Silava", Rigas iela 111, LV-2169, Salaspils, Latvia
| | - Dainis Rungis
- Latvian State Forest Research Institute "Silava", Rigas iela 111, LV-2169, Salaspils, Latvia
| | - Jouni Aspi
- Department of Genetics and Physiology, University of Oulu, 90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Ladislav Paule
- Department of Phytology, Faculty of Forestry, Technical University, T.G. Masaryk str. 24, SK-96053, Zvolen, Slovakia
| | - Tomaž Skrbinšek
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Vecna pot 111, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Urmas Saarma
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, 51014, Tartu, Estonia
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6
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Bautista C, Naves J, Revilla E, Fernández N, Albrecht J, Scharf AK, Rigg R, Karamanlidis AA, Jerina K, Huber D, Palazón S, Kont R, Ciucci P, Groff C, Dutsov A, Seijas J, Quenette PI, Olszańska A, Shkvyria M, Adamec M, Ozolins J, Jonozovič M, Selva N. Patterns and correlates of claims for brown bear damage on a continental scale. J Appl Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Bautista
- Institute of Nature Conservation; Polish Academy of Sciences; Mickiewicza 33 Krakow 31120 Poland
| | - Javier Naves
- Estación Biológica de Doñana - CSIC; Av. Américo Vespucio s/n 41092 Sevilla Spain
| | - Eloy Revilla
- Estación Biológica de Doñana - CSIC; Av. Américo Vespucio s/n 41092 Sevilla Spain
| | - Néstor Fernández
- Estación Biológica de Doñana - CSIC; Av. Américo Vespucio s/n 41092 Sevilla Spain
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig; Deutcher Pl. 5E 04103 Leipzig Germany
| | - Jörg Albrecht
- Institute of Nature Conservation; Polish Academy of Sciences; Mickiewicza 33 Krakow 31120 Poland
| | - Anne K. Scharf
- Max Planck Institute for Ornithology; Am Obstberg 1 78315 Radolfzell Germany
| | - Robin Rigg
- Slovak Wildlife Society; Post Office Box 72 03301 Liptovský Hrádok Slovakia
| | - Alexandros A. Karamanlidis
- ARCTUROS - Civil Society for the Protection and Management of Wildlife and the Natural Environment; 53075 Aetos, Florina Greece
| | - Klemen Jerina
- Biotechnical Faculty; University of Ljubljana; Jamnikarjeva 101 1000 Ljubljana Slovenia
| | - Djuro Huber
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; University of Zagreb; Heinzelova 55 10000 Zagreb Croatia
| | - Santiago Palazón
- Biodiversity and Animal Protection Service; Generalitat de Catalunya; Dr. Roux, 80 08017 Barcelona Spain
| | - Raido Kont
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences; Vanemuise 46 51014 Tartu Estonia
| | - Paolo Ciucci
- University of Rome “La Sapienza”; Viale dell'Università 32 00185 Roma Italy
| | - Claudio Groff
- Provincia Autonoma di Trento - Servizio Foreste e Fauna; Via Trener no. 3 38100 Trento Italy
| | - Aleksandar Dutsov
- Balkani Wildlife Society; Boulevard Dragan Tzankov 8 1164 Sofia Bulgaria
| | - Juan Seijas
- Servicio Territorial de Medio Ambiente de León; Junta de Castilla y León; Av. Peregrinos s/n 24008 León Spain
| | - Pierre-Ives Quenette
- ONCFS-CNERA PAD, Equipe Ours, Impasse de la Chapelle; 31800 Villeneuve de Rivière France
| | - Agnieszka Olszańska
- Institute of Nature Conservation; Polish Academy of Sciences; Mickiewicza 33 Krakow 31120 Poland
| | - Maryna Shkvyria
- Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology; National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine; 15 Bogdan Khmelnitsky 01601 Kyev-30 Ukraine
| | - Michal Adamec
- State Nature Conservancy of Slovak Republic; Tajovskeho 28B 97401 Banská Bystrica Slovakia
| | - Janis Ozolins
- Latvian State Forest Research Institute “Silava”; Rīgas str 111 Salaspils 2169 Latvia
| | - Marko Jonozovič
- Slovenia Forest Service; Večna pot 2 SI-1000 Ljubljana Slovenia
| | - Nuria Selva
- Institute of Nature Conservation; Polish Academy of Sciences; Mickiewicza 33 Krakow 31120 Poland
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7
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Stronen AV, Jędrzejewska B, Pertoldi C, Demontis D, Randi E, Niedziałkowska M, Borowik T, Sidorovich VE, Kusak J, Kojola I, Karamanlidis AA, Ozolins J, Dumenko V, Czarnomska SD. Genome-wide analyses suggest parallel selection for universal traits may eclipse local environmental selection in a highly mobile carnivore. Ecol Evol 2015; 5:4410-25. [PMID: 26664688 PMCID: PMC4667828 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2015] [Accepted: 08/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Ecological and environmental heterogeneity can produce genetic differentiation in highly mobile species. Accordingly, local adaptation may be expected across comparatively short distances in the presence of marked environmental gradients. Within the European continent, wolves (Canis lupus) exhibit distinct north–south population differentiation. We investigated more than 67‐K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci for signatures of local adaptation in 59 unrelated wolves from four previously identified population clusters (northcentral Europe n = 32, Carpathian Mountains n = 7, Dinaric‐Balkan n = 9, Ukrainian Steppe n = 11). Our analyses combined identification of outlier loci with findings from genome‐wide association study of individual genomic profiles and 12 environmental variables. We identified 353 candidate SNP loci. We examined the SNP position and neighboring megabase (1 Mb, one million bases) regions in the dog (C. lupus familiaris) genome for genes potentially under selection, including homologue genes in other vertebrates. These regions included functional genes for, for example, temperature regulation that may indicate local adaptation and genes controlling for functions universally important for wolves, including olfaction, hearing, vision, and cognitive functions. We also observed strong outliers not associated with any of the investigated variables, which could suggest selective pressures associated with other unmeasured environmental variables and/or demographic factors. These patterns are further supported by the examination of spatial distributions of the SNPs associated with universally important traits, which typically show marked differences in allele frequencies among population clusters. Accordingly, parallel selection for features important to all wolves may eclipse local environmental selection and implies long‐term separation among population clusters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astrid Vik Stronen
- Section of Biology and Environmental Science Department of Chemistry and Bioscience Aalborg University Fredrik Bajers Vej 7H DK-9220 Aalborg Øst Denmark ; Mammal Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences ul. Waszkiewicza 1 PL 17-230 Bialowieza Poland
| | - Bogumiła Jędrzejewska
- Mammal Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences ul. Waszkiewicza 1 PL 17-230 Bialowieza Poland
| | - Cino Pertoldi
- Section of Biology and Environmental Science Department of Chemistry and Bioscience Aalborg University Fredrik Bajers Vej 7H DK-9220 Aalborg Øst Denmark ; Aalborg Zoo Mølleparkvej 63 DK-9000 Aalborg Denmark
| | - Ditte Demontis
- Department of Human Genetics University of Aarhus Wilhelm Meyers Allé DK-8000 Aarhus Denmark
| | - Ettore Randi
- Section of Biology and Environmental Science Department of Chemistry and Bioscience Aalborg University Fredrik Bajers Vej 7H DK-9220 Aalborg Øst Denmark ; Laboratorio di Genetica ISPRA via Cà Fornacetta 9 I-40064 Ozzano Emilia (BO) Italy
| | - Magdalena Niedziałkowska
- Mammal Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences ul. Waszkiewicza 1 PL 17-230 Bialowieza Poland
| | - Tomasz Borowik
- Mammal Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences ul. Waszkiewicza 1 PL 17-230 Bialowieza Poland
| | - Vadim E Sidorovich
- Institute of Zoology Scientific and Practical Centre for Biological Resources National Academy of Science of Belarus Akademicheskaya Str 27 220072 Minsk Belarus
| | - Josip Kusak
- Department of Biology Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb Zagreb Croatia
| | - Ilpo Kojola
- Natural Resources Institute Finland Box 16 FI-96500 Rovaniemi Finland
| | - Alexandros A Karamanlidis
- ARCTUROS Civil Society for the Protection and Management of Wildlife and the Natural Environment GR-53075 Aetos Greece ; Department of Ecology and Natural Resources Management Norwegian University of Life Sciences NO-1432 Ås Norway
| | - Janis Ozolins
- Latvian State Forest Research Institute "Silava" Rīgas 111 LV-2169 Salaspils Latvia
| | - Vitalii Dumenko
- Biosphere Reserve Askania Nova Frunze Str. 13 Askania-Nova Chaplynka District Kherson Region 75230 Ukraine
| | - Sylwia D Czarnomska
- Mammal Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences ul. Waszkiewicza 1 PL 17-230 Bialowieza Poland
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8
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Chapron G, Kaczensky P, Linnell JDC, von Arx M, Huber D, Andrén H, López-Bao JV, Adamec M, Álvares F, Anders O, Balčiauskas L, Balys V, Bedő P, Bego F, Blanco JC, Breitenmoser U, Brøseth H, Bufka L, Bunikyte R, Ciucci P, Dutsov A, Engleder T, Fuxjäger C, Groff C, Holmala K, Hoxha B, Iliopoulos Y, Ionescu O, Jeremić J, Jerina K, Kluth G, Knauer F, Kojola I, Kos I, Krofel M, Kubala J, Kunovac S, Kusak J, Kutal M, Liberg O, Majić A, Männil P, Manz R, Marboutin E, Marucco F, Melovski D, Mersini K, Mertzanis Y, Mysłajek RW, Nowak S, Odden J, Ozolins J, Palomero G, Paunović M, Persson J, Potočnik H, Quenette PY, Rauer G, Reinhardt I, Rigg R, Ryser A, Salvatori V, Skrbinšek T, Stojanov A, Swenson JE, Szemethy L, Trajçe A, Tsingarska-Sedefcheva E, Váňa M, Veeroja R, Wabakken P, Wölfl M, Wölfl S, Zimmermann F, Zlatanova D, Boitani L. Recovery of large carnivores in Europe's modern human-dominated landscapes. Science 2015; 346:1517-9. [PMID: 25525247 DOI: 10.1126/science.1257553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 808] [Impact Index Per Article: 89.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
The conservation of large carnivores is a formidable challenge for biodiversity conservation. Using a data set on the past and current status of brown bears (Ursus arctos), Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), gray wolves (Canis lupus), and wolverines (Gulo gulo) in European countries, we show that roughly one-third of mainland Europe hosts at least one large carnivore species, with stable or increasing abundance in most cases in 21st-century records. The reasons for this overall conservation success include protective legislation, supportive public opinion, and a variety of practices making coexistence between large carnivores and people possible. The European situation reveals that large carnivores and people can share the same landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Chapron
- Grimsö Wildlife Research Station, Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 73091 Riddarhyttan, Sweden.
| | - Petra Kaczensky
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Savoyenstrasse 1, 1160 Vienna, Austria
| | - John D C Linnell
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Post Office Box 5685 Sluppen, 7485 Trondheim, Norway
| | | | - Djuro Huber
- Biology Department of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Henrik Andrén
- Grimsö Wildlife Research Station, Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 73091 Riddarhyttan, Sweden
| | - José Vicente López-Bao
- Grimsö Wildlife Research Station, Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 73091 Riddarhyttan, Sweden. Research Unit of Biodiversity (UO/CSIC/PA), Oviedo University, 33600 Mieres, Spain
| | - Michal Adamec
- State Nature Conservancy of Slovak Republic, Tajovskeho 28B, 974 01 Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
| | - Francisco Álvares
- CIBIO/InBio, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
| | - Ole Anders
- Harz Nationalpark, Lindenallee 35, 38855 Wernigerode, Germany
| | | | - Vaidas Balys
- Association for Nature Conservation "Baltijos vilkas," Visoriu 6A-54, 08300 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Péter Bedő
- Slovak Wildlife Society, Post Office Box 72, 03301 Liptovsky Hradok, Slovakia
| | - Ferdinand Bego
- Biology Department of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tirana, Boulevard Zog I, Tirana, Albania
| | - Juan Carlos Blanco
- Wolf Project, Consultores en Biología de la Conservación, Calle Manuela Malasana 24, 28004 Madrid, Spain
| | - Urs Breitenmoser
- KORA, Thunstrasse 31, 3074 Muri bei Bern, Switzerland. Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Henrik Brøseth
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Post Office Box 5685 Sluppen, 7485 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Luděk Bufka
- Department of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 21 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Raimonda Bunikyte
- Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania, Jakšto 4/9, 01105 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Paolo Ciucci
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies, University of Rome "La Sapienza," Viale dell'Università 32, 00185 Roma, Italy
| | - Alexander Dutsov
- Balkani Wildlife Society, Boulevard Dragan Tzankov 8, 1164 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Thomas Engleder
- Lynx Project Austria Northwest, Linzerstrasse 14, 4170 Haslach/Mühl, Austria
| | - Christian Fuxjäger
- Nationalpark Kalkalpen, Nationalpark Zentrum Molln, Nationalpark Allee 1, 4591 Molln, Austria
| | - Claudio Groff
- Provincia Autonoma di Trento - Servizio Foreste e Fauna, Via Trener no. 3, 38100 Trento, Italy
| | - Katja Holmala
- Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute, Viikinkaari 4, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Bledi Hoxha
- Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania, Rruga Vangjush Furxhi 16/1/10, Tirana, Albania
| | - Yorgos Iliopoulos
- Callisto Wildlife and Nature Conservation Society, Mitropoleos 123, 54621 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Ovidiu Ionescu
- Faculty of Silviculture and Forest Engineering, Department of Silviculture, Transilvania University, 1 Beethoven Lane, 500123 Brașov, Romania. Forest Research Institute (ICAS) Bulevardul Eroilor Number 128, Voluntari, Ilfov, 077190 Romania
| | - Jasna Jeremić
- State Institute for Nature Protection, Trg Mažuranića 5, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Klemen Jerina
- University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Gesa Kluth
- LUPUS - German Institute for Wolf Mnitoring and Research, Dorfstrasse 20, 02979 Spreewitz, Germany
| | - Felix Knauer
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Savoyenstrasse 1, 1160 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ilpo Kojola
- Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute, Oulu Game and Fisheries Research, Tutkijantie 2E, 90570 Oulu, Finland
| | - Ivan Kos
- University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Miha Krofel
- University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jakub Kubala
- Department of Forest Protection and Game Management, Faculty of Forestry, Technical University of Zvolen, T.G. Masaryka 20, 960 53 Zvolen, Slovakia
| | - Saša Kunovac
- Faculty of Forestry, University of Sarajevo, Zagrebačka 20, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Josip Kusak
- Biology Department of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Miroslav Kutal
- Department of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 3, 61300 Brno, Czech Republic. Friends of the Earth Czech Republic, Olomouc Branch, Dolní Náměstí 38, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Olof Liberg
- Grimsö Wildlife Research Station, Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 73091 Riddarhyttan, Sweden
| | - Aleksandra Majić
- University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Peep Männil
- Estonian Environment Agency, Rõõmu tee 2, 51013 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ralph Manz
- KORA, Thunstrasse 31, 3074 Muri bei Bern, Switzerland
| | - Eric Marboutin
- Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage, ZI Mayencin, 5 Allée de Béthléem, 38610 Gières, France
| | - Francesca Marucco
- Centro Gestione e Conservazione Grandi Carnivori, Piazza Regina Elena 30, Valdieri 12010, Italy
| | - Dime Melovski
- Macedonian Ecological Society, Arhimedova 5, Skopje 1000, FYR Macedonia. Department of Wildlife Sciences, Georg-August University, Büsgenweg 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Kujtim Mersini
- National Veterinary Epidemiology Unit, Food Safety and Veterinary Institute, Rruga Aleksandër Moisiu 10 Tirana, Albania
| | - Yorgos Mertzanis
- Callisto Wildlife and Nature Conservation Society, Mitropoleos 123, 54621 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Robert W Mysłajek
- Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Pawińskiego 5a, 02-106 Warszawa, Poland
| | - Sabina Nowak
- Association for Nature "Wolf," Twardorzeczka 229, 34-324 Lipowa, Poland
| | - John Odden
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Post Office Box 5685 Sluppen, 7485 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Janis Ozolins
- Latvian State Forest Research Institute "Silava," Rīgas Iela 111, Salaspils, 2169 Latvia
| | | | - Milan Paunović
- Natural History Museum, Njegoseva 51, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Jens Persson
- Grimsö Wildlife Research Station, Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 73091 Riddarhyttan, Sweden
| | - Hubert Potočnik
- University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Pierre-Yves Quenette
- ONCFS-CNERA PAD, Equipe Ours, Chef de Projet, Impasse de la Chapelle, 31800 Villeneuve de Rivière, France
| | - Georg Rauer
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Savoyenstrasse 1, 1160 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ilka Reinhardt
- LUPUS - German Institute for Wolf Mnitoring and Research, Dorfstrasse 20, 02979 Spreewitz, Germany
| | - Robin Rigg
- Slovak Wildlife Society, Post Office Box 72, 03301 Liptovsky Hradok, Slovakia
| | - Andreas Ryser
- KORA, Thunstrasse 31, 3074 Muri bei Bern, Switzerland
| | - Valeria Salvatori
- Istituto di Ecologia Applicata, Via B. Eustachio 10, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Tomaž Skrbinšek
- University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | - Jon E Swenson
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Post Office Box 5685 Sluppen, 7485 Trondheim, Norway. Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Postbox 5003, 1432 Ås, Norway
| | - László Szemethy
- St. István Unversity Institute for Wildlife Conservation, Páter Károly 1, 2103 Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Aleksandër Trajçe
- Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania, Rruga Vangjush Furxhi 16/1/10, Tirana, Albania
| | | | - Martin Váňa
- Friends of the Earth Czech Republic, Olomouc Branch, Dolní Náměstí 38, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Rauno Veeroja
- Estonian Environment Agency, Rõõmu tee 2, 51013 Tartu, Estonia
| | | | - Manfred Wölfl
- Bavarian Agency of Environment, Hans-Högn-Strasse 12, 95030 Hof/Saale, Germany
| | - Sybille Wölfl
- Lynx Project Bavaria, Trailling 1a, 93462 Lam, Germany
| | | | - Diana Zlatanova
- Department of Zoology and Anthropology, Faculty of Biology/Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski," Boulevard Dragan Tzankov 8, 1164 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Luigi Boitani
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies, University of Rome "La Sapienza," Viale dell'Università 32, 00185 Roma, Italy
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9
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Ratkiewicz M, Matosiuk M, Saveljev AP, Sidorovich V, Ozolins J, Männil P, Balciauskas L, Kojola I, Okarma H, Kowalczyk R, Schmidt K. Long-range gene flow and the effects of climatic and ecological factors on genetic structuring in a large, solitary carnivore: the Eurasian lynx. PLoS One 2014; 9:e115160. [PMID: 25551216 PMCID: PMC4281111 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0115160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2014] [Accepted: 11/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to their high mobility, large terrestrial predators are potentially capable of maintaining high connectivity, and therefore low genetic differentiation among populations. However, previous molecular studies have provided contradictory findings in relation to this. To elucidate patterns of genetic structure in large carnivores, we studied the genetic variability of the Eurasian lynx, Lynx lynx throughout north-eastern Europe using microsatellite, mitochondrial DNA control region and Y chromosome-linked markers. Using SAMOVA we found analogous patterns of genetic structure based on both mtDNA and microsatellites, which coincided with a relatively little evidence for male-biased dispersal. No polymorphism for the cytochrome b and ATP6 mtDNA genes and Y chromosome-linked markers were found. Lynx inhabiting a large area encompassing Finland, the Baltic countries and western Russia formed a single genetic unit, while some marginal populations were clearly divergent from others. The existence of a migration corridor was suggested to correspond with distribution of continuous forest cover. The lowest variability (in both markers) was found in lynx from Norway and Białowieża Primeval Forest (BPF), which coincided with a recent demographic bottleneck (Norway) or high habitat fragmentation (BPF). The Carpathian population, being monomorphic for the control region, showed relatively high microsatellite diversity, suggesting the effect of a past bottleneck (e.g. during Last Glacial Maximum) on its present genetic composition. Genetic structuring for the mtDNA control region was best explained by latitude and snow cover depth. Microsatellite structuring correlated with the lynx's main prey, especially the proportion of red deer (Cervus elaphus) in its diet. Eurasian lynx are capable of maintaining panmictic populations across eastern Europe unless they are severely limited by habitat continuity or a reduction in numbers. Different correlations of mtDNA and microsatellite population divergence patterns with climatic and ecological factors may suggest separate selective pressures acting on males and females in this solitary carnivore.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maciej Matosiuk
- Institute of Biology, University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland
| | - Alexander P. Saveljev
- B. M. Zhitkov Russian Research Institute of Game Management and Fur Farming, Russian Academy of Sciences, Kirov, Russia
| | - Vadim Sidorovich
- Centre for Biological Resources (former Institute of Zoology) of National Academy of Sciences, Minsk, Belarus
| | - Janis Ozolins
- Latvian State Forest Research Institute “Silava”, Salaspils, Latvia
| | | | | | - Ilpo Kojola
- Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute, Oulu Game and Fisheries Research, University of Oulu, Finland
| | - Henryk Okarma
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland
| | - Rafał Kowalczyk
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Białowieża, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Schmidt
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Białowieża, Poland
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10
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Hindrikson M, Remm J, Männil P, Ozolins J, Tammeleht E, Saarma U. Spatial genetic analyses reveal cryptic population structure and migration patterns in a continuously harvested grey wolf (Canis lupus) population in north-eastern Europe. PLoS One 2013; 8:e75765. [PMID: 24069446 PMCID: PMC3777892 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0075765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2013] [Accepted: 08/18/2013] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Spatial genetics is a relatively new field in wildlife and conservation biology that is becoming an essential tool for unravelling the complexities of animal population processes, and for designing effective strategies for conservation and management. Conceptual and methodological developments in this field are therefore critical. Here we present two novel methodological approaches that further the analytical possibilities of STRUCTURE and DResD. Using these approaches we analyse structure and migrations in a grey wolf (Canislupus) population in north-eastern Europe. We genotyped 16 microsatellite loci in 166 individuals sampled from the wolf population in Estonia and Latvia that has been under strong and continuous hunting pressure for decades. Our analysis demonstrated that this relatively small wolf population is represented by four genetic groups. We also used a novel methodological approach that uses linear interpolation to statistically test the spatial separation of genetic groups. The new method, which is capable of using program STRUCTURE output, can be applied widely in population genetics to reveal both core areas and areas of low significance for genetic groups. We also used a recently developed spatially explicit individual-based method DResD, and applied it for the first time to microsatellite data, revealing a migration corridor and barriers, and several contact zones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maris Hindrikson
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Jaanus Remm
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Peep Männil
- Estonian Environment Information Centre, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Janis Ozolins
- State Forest Research Institute “Silava,” Salaspils, Latvia
| | - Egle Tammeleht
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Urmas Saarma
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
- * E-mail:
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11
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Hindrikson M, Männil P, Ozolins J, Krzywinski A, Saarma U. Bucking the trend in wolf-dog hybridization: first evidence from europe of hybridization between female dogs and male wolves. PLoS One 2012; 7:e46465. [PMID: 23056315 PMCID: PMC3463576 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0046465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2010] [Accepted: 09/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies on hybridization have proved critical for understanding key evolutionary processes such as speciation and adaptation. However, from the perspective of conservation, hybridization poses a concern, as it can threaten the integrity and fitness of many wild species, including canids. As a result of habitat fragmentation and extensive hunting pressure, gray wolf (Canis lupus) populations have declined dramatically in Europe and elsewhere during recent centuries. Small and fragmented populations have persisted, but often only in the presence of large numbers of dogs, which increase the potential for hybridization and introgression to deleteriously affect wolf populations. Here, we demonstrate hybridization between wolf and dog populations in Estonia and Latvia, and the role of both genders in the hybridization process, using combined analysis of maternal, paternal and biparental genetic markers. Eight animals exhibiting unusual external characteristics for wolves - six from Estonia and two from Latvia - proved to be wolf-dog hybrids. However, one of the hybridization events was extraordinary. Previous field observations and genetic studies have indicated that mating between wolves and dogs is sexually asymmetrical, occurring predominantly between female wolves and male dogs. While this was also the case among the Estonian hybrids, our data revealed the existence of dog mitochondrial genomes in the Latvian hybrids and, together with Y chromosome and autosomal microsatellite data, thus provided the first evidence from Europe of mating between male wolves and female dogs. We discuss patterns of sexual asymmetry in wolf-dog hybridization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maris Hindrikson
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Peep Männil
- Estonian Environment Information Centre, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Janis Ozolins
- State Forest Research Institute “Silava”, Salaspils, Latvia
| | | | - Urmas Saarma
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
- * E-mail:
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Lisovski O, Piskunov S, Zhukovskii YF, Ozolins J. Ab initiomodeling of sulphur doped TiO2nanotubular photocatalyst for water-splitting hydrogen generation. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1088/1757-899x/38/1/012057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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13
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Ratkiewicz M, Matosiuk M, Kowalczyk R, Konopiński MK, Okarma H, Ozolins J, Männil P, Ornicans A, Schmidt K. High levels of population differentiation in Eurasian lynx at the edge of the species' western range in Europe revealed by mitochondrial DNA analyses. Anim Conserv 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-1795.2012.00556.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. Ratkiewicz
- Institute of Biology; University of Białystok; Białystok; Poland
| | - M. Matosiuk
- Institute of Biology; University of Białystok; Białystok; Poland
| | - R. Kowalczyk
- Mammal Research Institute; Polish Academy of Sciences; Białowieża; Poland
| | - M. K. Konopiński
- Institute of Nature Conservation; Polish Academy of Sciences; Kraków; Poland
| | - H. Okarma
- Institute of Nature Conservation; Polish Academy of Sciences; Kraków; Poland
| | - J. Ozolins
- Latvian State Forest Research Institute ‘Silava’; Salaspils; Latvia
| | - P. Männil
- Centre of Forest Protection and Silviculture; Tartu; Estonia
| | - A. Ornicans
- Latvian State Forest Research Institute ‘Silava’; Salaspils; Latvia
| | - K. Schmidt
- Mammal Research Institute; Polish Academy of Sciences; Białowieża; Poland
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Mucci N, Arrendal J, Ansorge H, Bailey M, Bodner M, Delibes M, Ferrando A, Fournier P, Fournier C, Godoy JA, Hajkova P, Hauer S, Heggberget TM, Heidecke D, Kirjavainen H, Krueger HH, Kvaloy K, Lafontaine L, Lanszki J, Lemarchand C, Liukko UM, Loeschcke V, Ludwig G, Madsen AB, Mercier L, Ozolins J, Paunovic M, Pertoldi C, Piriz A, Prigioni C, Santos-Reis M, Luis TS, Stjernberg T, Schmid H, Suchentrunk F, Teubner J, Tornberg R, Zinke O, Randi E. Genetic diversity and landscape genetic structure of otter (Lutra lutra) populations in Europe. CONSERV GENET 2010. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-010-0054-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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15
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Valdmann H, Andersone-Lilley Z, Koppa O, Ozolins J, Bagrade G. Winter diets of wolfCanis lupus and lynxLynx lynx in Estonia and Latvia. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2005. [DOI: 10.1007/bf03192645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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