Genetic support for the current discrete conservation unit of the Central European wolf population
The gray wolf Canis lupus range in central Europe is dynamically expanding, reconnecting previously isolated populations. Thus, a recent paper has proposed to merge the current Baltic and Central European (CE) wolf management units, which are no longer isolated by distance. However, recent genetic findings indicate that these two populations are not genetically homogenous. Here we review the most recent data on wolf genetic structure in central Europe and show that even though the CE and Baltic wolves represent the same phylogeographic lineage, their demographic history has resulted in significant genetic structure between these two populations. While the groups are interconnected by moderate gene flow, it is not high enough to reduce the strong founder signal observed in the CE population, suggesting that population dynamics within the CE wolf range are largely independent from those of its source (Baltic) population. Consequently, a management unit combining the CE and Baltic wolves would not form a demographically coherent entity. Thus, we recommend that conservation management units maintain their separate status.
Details
| Volume | 2021 |
|---|---|
| Tijdschrift nummer | 2 |
| Type | A1: Web of Science-artikel |
| Categorie | Onderzoek |
| Tijdschrift | WILDLIFE BIOLOGY |
| Issns | 0909-6396 |
| Uitgeverij | Nordic Council for Wildlife Research |
| Taal | Engels |
Bibtex
@misc{6e81bd71-e3a6-4b54-ad65-526a241fc16d,
title = "Genetic support for the current discrete conservation unit of the Central European wolf population",
abstract = "The gray wolf Canis lupus range in central Europe is dynamically expanding, reconnecting previously isolated populations. Thus, a recent paper has proposed to merge the current Baltic and Central European (CE) wolf management units, which are no longer isolated by distance. However, recent genetic findings indicate that these two populations are not genetically homogenous. Here we review the most recent data on wolf genetic structure in central Europe and show that even though the CE and Baltic wolves represent the same phylogeographic lineage, their demographic history has resulted in significant genetic structure between these two populations. While the groups are interconnected by moderate gene flow, it is not high enough to reduce the strong founder signal observed in the CE population, suggesting that population dynamics within the CE wolf range are largely independent from those of its source (Baltic) population. Consequently, a management unit combining the CE and Baltic wolves would not form a demographically coherent entity. Thus, we recommend that conservation management units maintain their separate status.",
author = "M Szewczyk and C Nowak and P Hulva and Joachim Mergeay and AV Stronen and BC Bolfikova and SD Czarnomska and TA Diserens and V Fenchuk and M Figura and Arjen,G. de Groot and A Haidt and MM Hansen and H. A. H Jansman and G Kluth and I Kwiatkowska and K Lubinska and JR Michaux and N Niedzwiecka and S Nowak and K. O Olsen and I Reinhardt and M Romanski and L. Schley and Matt S. Smith and R Spinkyte-Backaitien and P Stachyra and KM Stepniak and P. Sunde and Philip F Thomsen and T. Zwijacz-Kozica and RW Myslajek",
year = "2021",
month = mei,
day = "03",
doi = "https://doi.org/10.2981/wlb.00809",
language = "Nederlands",
publisher = "Nordic Council for Wildlife Research",
address = "België,
type = "Other"
}
Auteurs
M SzewczykC Nowak
P Hulva
Joachim Mergeay
AV Stronen
BC Bolfikova
SD Czarnomska
TA Diserens
V Fenchuk
M Figura
Arjen,G. de Groot
A Haidt
MM Hansen
H. A. H Jansman
G Kluth
I Kwiatkowska
K Lubinska
JR Michaux
N Niedzwiecka
S Nowak
K. O Olsen
I Reinhardt
M Romanski
L. Schley
Matt S. Smith
R Spinkyte-Backaitien
P Stachyra
KM Stepniak
P. Sunde
Philip F Thomsen
T. Zwijacz-Kozica
RW Myslajek