How the west was won: genetic reconstruction of rapid wolf recolonization into Germany’s anthropogenic landscapes
| Autor: | Anne Jarausch, Carsten Nowak, Verena Harms, Gesa Kluth, Ilka Reinhardt |
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| Rok vydání: | 2021 |
| Předmět: |
Male
0106 biological sciences 0301 basic medicine Population genetics Population Biology DNA Mitochondrial 010603 evolutionary biology 01 natural sciences Article 03 medical and health sciences Genetics Animals Inbreeding education Genetics (clinical) Sociality education.field_of_study Genetic diversity Wolves Conservation biology Ecology Cultural landscape Genetic Variation Genetics Population 030104 developmental biology Biological dispersal Female Philopatry Microsatellite Repeats Founder effect |
| Zdroj: | Heredity |
| ISSN: | 1365-2540 0018-067X |
| Popis: | Following massive persecution and eradication, strict legal protection facilitated a successful reestablishment of wolf packs in Germany, which has been ongoing since 2000. Here, we describe this recolonization process by mitochondrial DNA control-region sequencing, microsatellite genotyping and sex identification based on 1341 mostly non-invasively collected samples. We reconstructed the genealogy of German wolf packs between 2005 and 2015 to provide information on trends in genetic diversity, dispersal patterns and pack dynamics during the early expansion process. Our results indicate signs of a founder effect at the start of the recolonization. Genetic diversity in German wolves is moderate compared to other European wolf populations. Although dispersal among packs is male-biased in the sense that females are more philopatric, dispersal distances are similar between males and females once only dispersers are accounted for. Breeding with close relatives is regular and none of the six male wolves originating from the Italian/Alpine population reproduced. However, moderate genetic diversity and inbreeding levels of the recolonizing population are preserved by high sociality, dispersal among packs and several immigration events. Our results demonstrate an ongoing, rapid and natural wolf population expansion in an intensively used cultural landscape in Central Europe. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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