1
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De Barba M, Baur M, Boyer F, Fumagalli L, Konec M, Miquel C, Pazhenkova E, Remollino N, Skrbinšek T, Stoffel C, Taberlet P. Individual genotypes from environmental DNA: Fingerprinting snow tracks of three large carnivore species. Mol Ecol Resour 2024; 24:e13915. [PMID: 38099394 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13915] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
Continued advancements in environmental DNA (eDNA) research have made it possible to access intraspecific variation from eDNA samples, opening new opportunities to expand non-invasive genetic studies of wildlife populations. However, the use of eDNA samples for individual genotyping, as typically performed in non-invasive genetics, still remains elusive. We present successful individual genotyping of eDNA obtained from snow tracks of three large carnivores: brown bear (Ursus arctos), European lynx (Lynx lynx) and wolf (Canis lupus). DNA was extracted using a protocol for isolating water eDNA and genotyped using amplicon sequencing of short tandem repeats (STR), and for brown bear a sex marker, on a high-throughput sequencing platform. Individual genotypes were obtained for all species, but genotyping performance differed among samples and species. The proportion of samples genotyped to individuals was higher for brown bear (5/7) and wolf (7/10) than for lynx (4/9), and locus genotyping success was greater for brown bear (0.88). The sex marker was typed in six out of seven brown bear samples. Results for three species show that reliable individual genotyping, including sex identification, is now possible from eDNA in snow tracks, underlining its vast potential to complement the non-invasive genetic methods used for wildlife. To fully leverage the application of snow track eDNA, improved understanding of the ideal species- and site-specific sampling conditions, as well as laboratory methods promoting genotyping success, is needed. This will also inform efforts to retrieve and type nuclear DNA from other eDNA samples, thereby advancing eDNA-based individual and population-level studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta De Barba
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- DivjaLabs Ltd., Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Molly Baur
- Laboratory for Conservation Biology, Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Frédéric Boyer
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Université Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, LECA, Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, Grenoble, France
| | - Luca Fumagalli
- Laboratory for Conservation Biology, Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- University Center of Legal Medicine Lausanne and Geneva, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Marjeta Konec
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- DivjaLabs Ltd., Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Christian Miquel
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Université Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, LECA, Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, Grenoble, France
| | - Elena Pazhenkova
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Nadège Remollino
- Laboratory for Conservation Biology, Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Tomaž Skrbinšek
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- DivjaLabs Ltd., Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Céline Stoffel
- Laboratory for Conservation Biology, Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Pierre Taberlet
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Université Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, LECA, Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, Grenoble, France
- UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø Museum, Tromsø, Norway
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2
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Jan M, Stronen AV, Boljte B, Černe R, Huber Đ, Iosif R, Kljun F, Konec M, Kos I, Krofel M, Kusak J, Luštrik R, Majić Skrbinšek A, Promberger-Füerpass B, Potočnik H, Rigg R, Trontelj P, Skrbinšek T. Wolf genetic diversity compared across Europe using the yardstick method. Sci Rep 2023; 13:13727. [PMID: 37608038 PMCID: PMC10444868 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40834-x] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Integrating data across studies with traditional microsatellite genetic markers requires careful calibration and represents an obstacle for investigation of wide-ranging species where populations require transboundary management. We used the "yardstick" method to compare results published across Europe since 2002 and new wolf (Canis lupus) genetic profiles from the Carpathian Mountains in Central Europe and the Dinaric Mountains in Southeastern Europe, with the latter as our reference population. We compared each population with Dinaric wolves, considering only shared markers (range 4-17). For each population, we calculated standard genetic diversity indices plus calibrated heterozygosity (Hec) and allelic richness (Ac). Hec and Ac in Dinaric (0.704 and 9.394) and Carpathian wolves (0.695 and 7.023) were comparable to those observed in other large and mid-sized European populations, but smaller than those of northeastern Europe. Major discrepancies in marker choices among some studies made comparisons more difficult. However, the yardstick method, including the new measures of Hec and Ac, provided a direct comparison of genetic diversity values among wolf populations and an intuitive interpretation of the results. The yardstick method thus permitted the integration of diverse sources of publicly available microsatellite data for spatiotemporal genetic monitoring of evolutionary potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja Jan
- Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Astrid Vik Stronen
- Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- DivjaLabs d.o.o., Aljaževa ulica 35a, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Fredrik Bajers Vej 7H, 9220, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Barbara Boljte
- Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- DivjaLabs d.o.o., Aljaževa ulica 35a, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Rok Černe
- Slovenia Forest Service, Večna pot 2, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Đuro Huber
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Vjekoslava Heinzelova 55, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ruben Iosif
- Foundation Conservation Carpathia, 27 Calea Feldioarei, 500471, Brașov, Romania
| | - Franc Kljun
- Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Marjeta Konec
- Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- DivjaLabs d.o.o., Aljaževa ulica 35a, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Ivan Kos
- Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Miha Krofel
- Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Josip Kusak
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Vjekoslava Heinzelova 55, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Roman Luštrik
- Genialis Inc, Vojkova cesta 63, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Aleksandra Majić Skrbinšek
- Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- DivjaLabs d.o.o., Aljaževa ulica 35a, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | - Hubert Potočnik
- Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Robin Rigg
- Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Slovak Wildlife Society, Belanská 574/6, P.O. Box 72, Liptovský Hrádok, 033 01, Slovakia
| | - Peter Trontelj
- Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tomaž Skrbinšek
- Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- DivjaLabs d.o.o., Aljaževa ulica 35a, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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3
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Šnjegota D, Stronen AV, Boljte B, Ćirović D, Djan M, Huber D, Jelenčič M, Konec M, Kusak J, Skrbinšek T. Population genetic structure of wolves in the northwestern Dinaric-Balkan region. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:18492-18504. [PMID: 35003687 PMCID: PMC8717286 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The Balkan Peninsula and the Dinaric Mountains possess extraordinary biodiversity and support one of the largest and most diverse wolf (Canis lupus) populations in Europe. Results obtained with diverse genetic markers show west-east substructure, also seen in various other species, despite the absence of obvious barriers to movement. However, the spatial extent of the genetic clusters remains unresolved, and our aim was to combine fine-scale sampling with population and spatial genetic analyses to improve resolution of wolf genetic clusters. We analyzed 16 autosomal microsatellites from 255 wolves sampled in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH), and Serbia and documented three genetic clusters. These comprised (1) Slovenia and the regions of Gorski kotar and Lika in Croatia, (2) the region of Dalmatia in southern Croatia and BIH, and (3) Serbia. When we mapped the clusters geographically, we observed west-east genetic structure across the study area, together with some specific structure in BIH-Dalmatia. We observed that cluster 1 had a smaller effective population size, consistent with earlier reports of population recovery since the 1980s. Our results provide foundation for future genomic studies that would further resolve the observed west-east population structure and its evolutionary history in wolves and other taxa in the region and identify focal areas for habitat conservation. They also have immediate importance for conservation planning for the wolves in one of the most important parts of the species' European range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dragana Šnjegota
- Department of Biology and EcologyFaculty of Natural Sciences and MathematicsUniversity of Banja LukaBanja LukaBosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Astrid Vik Stronen
- Department of BiologyBiotechnical FacultyUniversity of LjubljanaLjubljanaSlovenia
| | - Barbara Boljte
- Department of BiologyBiotechnical FacultyUniversity of LjubljanaLjubljanaSlovenia
| | - Duško Ćirović
- Faculty of BiologyUniversity of BelgradeBelgradeSerbia
| | - Mihajla Djan
- Department of Biology and EcologyFaculty of SciencesUniversity of Novi SadNovi SadSerbia
| | - Djuro Huber
- Department of BiologyFaculty of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of ZagrebZagrebCroatia
| | - Maja Jelenčič
- Department of BiologyBiotechnical FacultyUniversity of LjubljanaLjubljanaSlovenia
| | - Marjeta Konec
- Department of BiologyBiotechnical FacultyUniversity of LjubljanaLjubljanaSlovenia
| | - Josip Kusak
- Department of BiologyFaculty of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of ZagrebZagrebCroatia
| | - Tomaž Skrbinšek
- Department of BiologyBiotechnical FacultyUniversity of LjubljanaLjubljanaSlovenia
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4
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Stronen AV, Konec M, Boljte B, Bošković I, Gačić D, Galov A, Heltai M, Jelenčič M, Kljun F, Kos I, Kovačič T, Lanszki J, Pintur K, Pokorny B, Skrbinšek T, Suchentrunk F, Szabó L, Šprem N, Tomljanović K, Potočnik H. Population genetic structure in a rapidly expanding mesocarnivore: golden jackals in the Dinaric-Pannonian region. Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
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5
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Krofel M, Skrbinšek T, Mohorović M. Using video surveillance to monitor feeding behaviour and kleptoparasitism at Eurasian lynx kill sites. Folia Zoologica 2019. [DOI: 10.25225/fozo.037.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Miha Krofel
- University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Jamnikarjeva 101, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; e-mail:
| | - Tomaž Skrbinšek
- University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Jamnikarjeva 101, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; e-mail:
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6
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Trajçe A, Ivanov G, Keçi E, Majić A, Melovski D, Mersini K, Mustafa S, Skrbinšek T, Stojanov A, Todorovska A, von Arx M, Linnell JD. All carnivores are not equal in the rural people's view. Should we develop conservation plans for functional guilds or individual species in the face of conflicts? Glob Ecol Conserv 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
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7
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Skrbinšek T, Luštrik R, Majić-Skrbinšek A, Potočnik H, Kljun F, Jelenčič M, Kos I, Trontelj P. From science to practice: genetic estimate of brown bear population size in Slovenia and how it influenced bear management. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-019-1265-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [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: 10/27/2022]
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8
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Barlow A, Cahill JA, Hartmann S, Theunert C, Xenikoudakis G, Fortes GG, Paijmans JLA, Rabeder G, Frischauf C, Grandal-d'Anglade A, García-Vázquez A, Murtskhvaladze M, Saarma U, Anijalg P, Skrbinšek T, Bertorelle G, Gasparian B, Bar-Oz G, Pinhasi R, Slatkin M, Dalén L, Shapiro B, Hofreiter M. Partial genomic survival of cave bears in living brown bears. Nat Ecol Evol 2018; 2:1563-1570. [PMID: 30150744 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-018-0654-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2017] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Although many large mammal species went extinct at the end of the Pleistocene epoch, their DNA may persist due to past episodes of interspecies admixture. However, direct empirical evidence of the persistence of ancient alleles remains scarce. Here, we present multifold coverage genomic data from four Late Pleistocene cave bears (Ursus spelaeus complex) and show that cave bears hybridized with brown bears (Ursus arctos) during the Pleistocene. We develop an approach to assess both the directionality and relative timing of gene flow. We find that segments of cave bear DNA still persist in the genomes of living brown bears, with cave bears contributing 0.9 to 2.4% of the genomes of all brown bears investigated. Our results show that even though extinction is typically considered as absolute, following admixture, fragments of the gene pool of extinct species can survive for tens of thousands of years in the genomes of extant recipient species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axel Barlow
- Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany.
| | - James A Cahill
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Stefanie Hartmann
- Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Christoph Theunert
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.,Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Gloria G Fortes
- Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany.,Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | | | - Gernot Rabeder
- Institute of Palaeontology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | - Ana García-Vázquez
- Instituto Universitario de Xeoloxía, Universidade da Coruña, A Coruña, Spain
| | | | - Urmas Saarma
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Peeter Anijalg
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Tomaž Skrbinšek
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Giorgio Bertorelle
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Boris Gasparian
- Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Guy Bar-Oz
- Zinman Institute of Archaeology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ron Pinhasi
- Earth Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.,Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Montgomery Slatkin
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Love Dalén
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Beth Shapiro
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Michael Hofreiter
- Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
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9
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Karamanlidis AA, Skrbinšek T, de Gabriel Hernando M, Krambokoukis L, Munoz-Fuentes V, Bailey Z, Nowak C, Stronen AV. History-driven population structure and asymmetric gene flow in a recovering large carnivore at the rear-edge of its European range. Heredity (Edinb) 2018; 120:168-182. [PMID: 29225354 PMCID: PMC5837125 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-017-0031-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2017] [Revised: 09/21/2017] [Accepted: 10/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms and patterns involved in population recoveries is challenging and important in shaping conservation strategies. We used a recovering rear-edge population of brown bears at their southernmost European range in Greece as a case study (2007-2010) to explore the recovery genetics at a species' distribution edge. We used 17 microsatellite and a mitochondrial markers to evaluate genetic structure, estimate effective population size and genetic diversity, and infer gene flow between the identified subpopulations. To understand the larger picture, we also compared the observed genetic diversity of each subpopulation with other brown bear populations in the region. The results indicate that the levels of genetic diversity for bears in western Greece are the lowest recorded in southeastern Europe, but still higher than those of other genetically depauperate bear populations. Apart from a complete separation of bear populations in eastern and western Greece, our results also indicate a considerable genetic sub-structuring in the West. As bear populations in Greece are now recovering, this structure is dissolving through a "recovery cascade" of asymmetric gene flow from South to North between neighboring subpopulations, mediated mainly by males. Our study outlines the importance of small, persisting populations, which can act as "stepping stones" that enable a rapid population expansion and recovery. This in turn makes their importance much greater than their numeric or genetic contribution to a species as a whole.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Karamanlidis
- ARCTUROS-Civil Society for the Protection and Management of Wildlife and the Natural Environment, Aetos, 53075, Florina, Greece.
- Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, NO-1432, Ås, Norway.
| | - T Skrbinšek
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 111, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | - L Krambokoukis
- ARCTUROS-Civil Society for the Protection and Management of Wildlife and the Natural Environment, Aetos, 53075, Florina, Greece
| | - V Munoz-Fuentes
- Conservation Genetics Section, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Clamecystrasse 12, 63571, Gelnhausen, Germany
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Z Bailey
- Conservation Genetics Section, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Clamecystrasse 12, 63571, Gelnhausen, Germany
| | - C Nowak
- Conservation Genetics Section, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Clamecystrasse 12, 63571, Gelnhausen, Germany
| | - A V Stronen
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Frederik Bajers Vej 7H, DK-9220, Aalborg Øst, Denmark
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10
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Montana L, Caniglia R, Galaverni M, Fabbri E, Ahmed A, Bolfíková BČ, Czarnomska SD, Galov A, Godinho R, Hindrikson M, Hulva P, Jędrzejewska B, Jelenčič M, Kutal M, Saarma U, Skrbinšek T, Randi E. Combining phylogenetic and demographic inferences to assess the origin of the genetic diversity in an isolated wolf population. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0176560. [PMID: 28489863 PMCID: PMC5425034 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0176560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2016] [Accepted: 04/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The survival of isolated small populations is threatened by both demographic and genetic factors. Large carnivores declined for centuries in most of Europe due to habitat changes, overhunting of their natural prey and direct persecution. However, the current rewilding trends are driving many carnivore populations to expand again, possibly reverting the erosion of their genetic diversity. In this study we reassessed the extent and origin of the genetic variation of the Italian wolf population, which is expanding after centuries of decline and isolation. We genotyped wolves from Italy and other nine populations at four mtDNA regions (control-region, ATP6, COIII and ND4) and 39 autosomal microsatellites. Results of phylogenetic analyses and assignment procedures confirmed in the Italian wolves a second private mtDNA haplotype, which belongs to a haplogroup distributed mostly in southern Europe. Coalescent analyses showed that the unique mtDNA haplotypes in the Italian wolves likely originated during the late Pleistocene. ABC simulations concordantly showed that the extant wolf populations in Italy and in south-western Europe started to be isolated and declined right after the last glacial maximum. Thus, the standing genetic variation in the Italian wolves principally results from the historical isolation south of the Alps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Montana
- Laboratorio di Genetica, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Ozzano dell’Emilia, Bologna, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Romolo Caniglia
- Laboratorio di Genetica, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Ozzano dell’Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marco Galaverni
- Laboratorio di Genetica, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Ozzano dell’Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Elena Fabbri
- Laboratorio di Genetica, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Ozzano dell’Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Atidje Ahmed
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Barbora Černá Bolfíková
- Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Ana Galov
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Raquel Godinho
- CIBIO/InBIO - Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Maris Hindrikson
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Pavel Hulva
- Department of Zoology, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Ostrava University, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | | | - Maja Jelenčič
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Miroslav Kutal
- Department of Forest Ecology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
- Friends of the Earth Czech Republic, Olomouc Branch, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Urmas Saarma
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Tomaž Skrbinšek
- Department of Forest Ecology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ettore Randi
- Laboratorio di Genetica, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Ozzano dell’Emilia, Bologna, Italy
- Department 18/ Section of Environmental Engineering, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
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11
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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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de Groot GA, Nowak C, Skrbinšek T, Andersen LW, Aspi J, Fumagalli L, Godinho R, Harms V, Jansman HA, Liberg O, Marucco F, Mysłajek RW, Nowak S, Pilot M, Randi E, Reinhardt I, Śmietana W, Szewczyk M, Taberlet P, Vilà C, Muñoz-Fuentes V. Decades of population genetic research reveal the need for harmonization of molecular markers: the grey wolf C
anis lupus
as a case study. Mamm Rev 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/mam.12052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- G. Arjen de Groot
- Animal Ecology; Alterra, Wageningen UR; P.O. Box 47 6700 AA Wageningen The Netherlands
| | - Carsten Nowak
- Conservation Genetics Group; Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt; Clamecystrasse 12 63571 Gelnhausen Germany
| | - Tomaž Skrbinšek
- Department of Biology; Biotechnical Faculty; University of Ljubljana; Večna pot 111 Ljubljana 1000 Slovenia
| | | | - Jouni Aspi
- Department of Biology, Genetics and Physiology; University of Oulu; P.O. Box 3000 90014 Oulu Finland
| | - Luca Fumagalli
- Department of Ecology and Evolution; Laboratory for Conservation Biology; Biophore Building; University of Lausanne; 1015 Lausanne Switzerland
| | - Raquel Godinho
- Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources; CIBIO/InBio; Campus Agrário de Vairão 4485-661 Vairão Portugal
- Department of Biology; Faculty of Sciences; University of Porto; Rua do Campo Alegre s/n 4169-007 Porto Portugal
- Department of Zoology; Faculty of Sciences; University of Johannesburg; Auckland Park 2006 Johannesburg South Africa
| | - Verena Harms
- Conservation Genetics Group; Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt; Clamecystrasse 12 63571 Gelnhausen Germany
| | - Hugh A.H. Jansman
- Animal Ecology; Alterra, Wageningen UR; P.O. Box 47 6700 AA Wageningen The Netherlands
| | - Olof Liberg
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU); Grimsö Wildlife Research Station SE-730 91 Riddarhyttan Sweden
| | - Francesca Marucco
- Parco Naturale Alpi Marittime; Centro Gestione e Conservazione Grandi Carnivori; Piazza Regina Elena 30 12010 Valdieri Italy
| | - 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
| | - Małgorzata Pilot
- School of Life Sciences; University of Lincoln; Green Lane Lincoln LN6 7DL UK
| | - Ettore Randi
- Laboratorio di Genetica; Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA); Via Cà Fornacetta 9 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia (BO) Italy
- Aalborg University; Department 18/Section of Environmental Engineering; Sohngårdsholmsvej 57 9000 Aalborg Denmark
| | - Ilka Reinhardt
- LUPUS - German Institute for Wolf Monitoring and Research; Dorfstraße 20 02979 Spreewitz Germany
| | - Wojciech Śmietana
- Polish Academy of Sciences; Institute of Nature Conservation; Mickiewicza 33 31-120 Kraków Poland
| | - Maciej Szewczyk
- Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology; Faculty of Biology; University of Warsaw; Pawińskiego 5a 02-106 Warszawa Poland
| | - Pierre Taberlet
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine (LECA); F-38000 Grenoble France
- Université Grenoble Alpes; Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine (LECA); F-38000 Grenoble France
| | - Carles Vilà
- Doñana Biological Station (EBD-CSIC); Avenida Americo Vespucio s/n 41092 Sevilla Spain
| | - Violeta Muñoz-Fuentes
- Conservation Genetics Group; Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt; Clamecystrasse 12 63571 Gelnhausen Germany
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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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Karamanlidis AA, Paunović M, Ćirović D, Karapandža B, Skrbinšek T, Zedrosser A. Population genetic parameters of brown bears in western Serbia: implications for research and conservation. URSUS 2014. [DOI: 10.2192/ursus-d-1--00033.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Sindičić M, Polanc P, Gomerčić T, Jelenčič M, Huber Đ, Trontelj P, Skrbinšek T. Genetic data confirm critical status of the reintroduced Dinaric population of Eurasian lynx. CONSERV GENET 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-013-0491-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Skrbinšek T, Jelenčič M, Waits L, Kos I, Jerina K, Trontelj P. Monitoring the effective population size of a brown bear (Ursus arctos) population using new single-sample approaches. Mol Ecol 2012; 21:862-75. [PMID: 22229706 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2011.05423.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The effective population size (N(e) ) could be the ideal parameter for monitoring populations of conservation concern as it conveniently summarizes both the evolutionary potential of the population and its sensitivity to genetic stochasticity. However, tracing its change through time is difficult in natural populations. We applied four new methods for estimating N(e) from a single sample of genotypes to trace temporal change in N(e) for bears in the Northern Dinaric Mountains. We genotyped 510 bears using 20 microsatellite loci and determined their age. The samples were organized into cohorts with regard to the year when the animals were born and yearly samples with age categories for every year when they were alive. We used the Estimator by Parentage Assignment (EPA) to directly estimate both N(e) and generation interval for each yearly sample. For cohorts, we estimated the effective number of breeders (N(b) ) using linkage disequilibrium, sibship assignment and approximate Bayesian computation methods and extrapolated these estimates to N(e) using the generation interval. The N(e) estimate by EPA is 276 (183-350 95% CI), meeting the inbreeding-avoidance criterion of N(e) > 50 but short of the long-term minimum viable population goal of N(e) > 500. The results obtained by the other methods are highly consistent with this result, and all indicate a rapid increase in N(e) probably in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The new single-sample approaches to the estimation of N(e) provide efficient means for including N(e) in monitoring frameworks and will be of great importance for future management and conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomaž Skrbinšek
- Department of Biology, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 111, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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Kaczensky P, Jerina K, Jonozovič M, Krofel M, Skrbinšek T, Rauer G, Kos I, Gutleb B. Illegal killings may hamper brown bear recovery in the Eastern Alps. URSUS 2011. [DOI: 10.2192/ursus-d-10-00009.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Račnik J, Skrbinšek T, Tozon N, Nemec A, Potočnik H, Kljun F, Kos I, Bidovec A. Blood and urine values of free-living European wildcats in Slovenia. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2004. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-003-0034-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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