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Penttinen I, Nebel C, Stjernberg T, Kvist L, Ponnikas S, Laaksonen T. Large-scale genotypic identification reveals density-dependent natal dispersal patterns in an elusive bird of prey. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2024; 12:16. [PMID: 38360667 PMCID: PMC10870540 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-023-00447-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Natal dispersal, the distance between site of birth and site of first breeding, has a fundamental role in population dynamics and species' responses to environmental changes. Population density is considered a key driver of natal dispersal. However, few studies have been able to examine densities at both the natal and the settlement site, which is critical for understanding the role of density in dispersal. Additionally, the role of density on natal dispersal remains poorly understood in long-lived and slowly reproducing species, due to their prolonged dispersal periods and often elusive nature. We studied the natal dispersal of the white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) in response to local breeder densities. We investigated the effects of the number of active territories around the natal site on (a) natal dispersal distance and (b) the difference between natal and settlement site breeder density. We were interested in whether eagles showed tendencies of conspecific attraction (positive density-dependence) or intraspecific competition (negative density-dependence) and how this related to settlement site breeder density. METHODS We used a combination of long-term visual and genotypic identification to match individuals from their breeding site to their natal nest. We identified natal dispersal events for 355 individuals hatched between 1984 and 2015 in the Baltic Sea coast and Arctic areas of Finland. Of those, 251 were identified by their genotype. RESULTS Individuals born in high-density areas dispersed shorter distances than those born in low-density areas, but settled at lower density breeding sites in comparison to their natal site. Eagles born in low natal area densities dispersed farther but settled in higher density breeding sites compared to their natal site. CONCLUSIONS We show that eagles might be attracted by conspecifics (positive density-dependence) to identify high-quality habitats or find mates, but do not settle in the most densely populated areas. This indicates that natal dispersal is affected by an interplay of conspecific attraction and intraspecific competition, which has implications for population dynamics of white-tailed eagles, but also other top predators. Furthermore, our study demonstrates the value of long-term collection of both nestling and (non-invasive) adult DNA samples, and thereafter using genotype matching to identify individuals in long-lived and elusive species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ida Penttinen
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
| | - Carina Nebel
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Torsten Stjernberg
- Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Laura Kvist
- Ecology and Genetics Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Suvi Ponnikas
- Ecology and Genetics Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Toni Laaksonen
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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2
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Carroll SL, Schmidt GM, Waller JS, Graves TA. Evaluating density-weighted connectivity of black bears (Ursus americanus) in Glacier National Park with spatial capture-recapture models. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2024; 12:8. [PMID: 38263096 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-023-00445-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Improved understanding of wildlife population connectivity among protected area networks can support effective planning for the persistence of wildlife populations in the face of land use and climate change. Common approaches to estimating connectivity often rely on small samples of individuals without considering the spatial structure of populations, leading to limited understanding of how individual movement links to demography and population connectivity. Recently developed spatial capture-recapture (SCR) models provide a framework to formally connect inference about individual movement, connectivity, and population density, but few studies have applied this approach to empirical data to support connectivity planning. METHODS We used mark-recapture data collected from 924 genetic detections of 598 American black bears (Ursus americanus) in 2004 with SCR ecological distance models to simultaneously estimate density, landscape resistance to movement, and population connectivity in Glacier National Park northwest Montana, USA. We estimated density and movement parameters separately for males and females and used model estimates to calculate predicted density-weighted connectivity surfaces. RESULTS Model results indicated that landscape structure influences black bear density and space use in Glacier. The mean density estimate was 16.08 bears/100 km2 (95% CI 12.52-20.6) for females and 9.27 bears/100 km2 (95% CI 7.70-11.14) for males. Density increased with forest cover for both sexes. For male black bears, density decreased at higher grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) densities. Drainages, valley bottoms, and riparian vegetation decreased estimates of landscape resistance to movement for male and female bears. For males, forest cover also decreased estimated resistance to movement, but a transportation corridor bisecting the study area strongly increased resistance to movement presenting a barrier to connectivity. CONCLUSIONS Density-weighed connectivity surfaces highlighted areas important for population connectivity that were distinct from areas with high potential connectivity. For black bears in Glacier and surrounding landscapes, consideration of both vegetation and valley topography could inform the placement of underpasses along the transportation corridor in areas characterized by both high population density and potential connectivity. Our study demonstrates that the SCR ecological distance model can provide biologically realistic, spatially explicit predictions to support movement connectivity planning across large landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah L Carroll
- Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA.
| | - Greta M Schmidt
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, 92182, USA
| | - John S Waller
- Glacier National Park, P.O. Box 128, West Glacier, MT, 59936, USA
| | - Tabitha A Graves
- U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, PO Box 169, West Glacier, MT, 59936, USA
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3
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Takayama K, Ohnishi N, Zedrosser A, Anezaki T, Tochigi K, Inagaki A, Naganuma T, Yamazaki K, Koike S. Timing and distance of natal dispersal in Asian black bears. J Mammal 2023; 104:265-278. [PMID: 37032704 PMCID: PMC10075337 DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyac118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Dispersal has important implications for population ecology and genetics of a species through redistribution of individuals. In most mammals, males leave their natal area before they reach sexual maturity, whereas females are commonly philopatric. Here, we investigate the patterns of natal dispersal in the Asian black bear (Ursus thibetanus) based on data from 550 bears (378 males, 172 females) captured or removed in Gunma and Tochigi prefectures on central Honshu Island, Japan in 2003–2018. We used genetic data and parentage analysis to investigate sex-biased differences in the distance of natal dispersal. We further investigated the age of dispersal using spatial autocorrelation analysis, that is, the change in the correlation between genetic and geographic distances in each sex and age group. Our results revealed that male dispersal distances (mean ± SE = 17.4 ± 3.5 km) were significantly farther than female distances (4.8 ± 1.7 km), and the results were not affected by years of mast failures, a prominent forage source for this population. Based on an average adult female home range radius of 1.8 km, 96% of the males and 50% of the females dispersed. In the spatial autocorrelation analysis, the changes in the relationship between genetic and geographic distances were more pronounced in males compared to females. Males seem to mostly disperse at age 3 regardless of mast productivity, and they gradually disperse far from their home range, but young and inexperienced males may return to their natal home range in years with poor food conditions. The results suggest that factors driving the dispersal process seem to be population structure-based instead of forage availability-based. In females, a significant genetic relationship was observed among all individuals in the group with a minimum age of 6 years within a distance of 2 km, which resulted in the formation of matrilineal assemblages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaede Takayama
- Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology , 3-5-8 Saiwai-Cho, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509 , Japan
| | - Naoki Ohnishi
- Tohoku Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute , 92-25 Nabeyashiki, Morioka, Iwate 020-0123 , Japan
| | - Andreas Zedrosser
- Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway , N-3800 Bø in Telemark , Norway
- Institute for Wildlife Biology and Game Management, University for Natural Resources and Life Sciences , Vienna, Gregor Mendel Str. 33, A-1180 Vienna , Austria
- Institute of Global Innovation, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology , 3-5-8 Saiwai-Cho, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509 , Japan
| | - Tomoko Anezaki
- Gunma Museum of Natural History , 1674-1 Kamikuroiwa, Tomioka, Gunma 370-2345 , Japan
| | - Kahoko Tochigi
- Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology , 3-5-8 Saiwai-Cho, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509 , Japan
| | - Akino Inagaki
- Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology , 3-5-8 Saiwai-Cho, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509 , Japan
| | - Tomoko Naganuma
- Institute of Global Innovation, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology , 3-5-8 Saiwai-Cho, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509 , Japan
| | - Koji Yamazaki
- Faculty of Regional Environmental Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture , 1-1-1 Sakuragaoka, Setagaya, Tokyo 156-8502 , Japan
| | - Shinsuke Koike
- Institute of Global Innovation, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology , 3-5-8 Saiwai-Cho, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509 , Japan
- Institute of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology , 3-5-8 Saiwai-Cho, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509 , Japan
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4
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Sultaire SM, Kawai‐Harada Y, Kimmel A, Greeson EM, Jackson PJ, Contag CH, Lackey CW, Beckmann JP, Millspaugh JJ, Montgomery RA. Black bear density and habitat use variation at the Sierra Nevada‐Great Basin Desert transition. J Wildl Manage 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sean M. Sultaire
- Wildlife Biology Program University of Montana 32 Campus Drive Missoula MT 59812 USA
| | - Yuki Kawai‐Harada
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering Michigan State University East Lansing MI USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering Michigan State University East Lansing MI USA
| | - Ashley Kimmel
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering Michigan State University East Lansing MI USA
- College of Veterinary Medicine Michigan State University East Lansing MI USA
| | - Emily M. Greeson
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering Michigan State University East Lansing MI USA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics Michigan State University East Lansing MI USA
| | - Patrick J. Jackson
- Nevada Department of Wildlife 6980 Sierra Center Parkway, Suite 120 Reno NV 89511 USA
| | - Christopher H. Contag
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering Michigan State University East Lansing MI USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering Michigan State University East Lansing MI USA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics Michigan State University East Lansing MI USA
| | - Carl W. Lackey
- Nevada Department of Wildlife 6980 Sierra Center Parkway, Suite 120 Reno NV 89511 USA
| | - Jon P. Beckmann
- Wildlife Conservation Society Rockies Program 1050 E Main, Suite 2 Bozeman MT 59715 USA
| | - Joshua J. Millspaugh
- Wildlife Biology Program University of Montana 32 Campus Drive Missoula MT 59812 USA
| | - Robert A. Montgomery
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, The Recanati‐Kaplan Centre University of Oxford Tubney House, Abingdon Road Tubney Oxon OX13 5QL United Kingdom
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5
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Shimozuru M, Jimbo M, Adachi K, Kawamura K, Shirane Y, Umemura Y, Ishinazaka T, Nakanishi M, Kiyonari M, Yamanaka M, Amagai Y, Ijuin A, Sakiyama T, Kasai S, Nose T, Shirayanagi M, Tsuruga H, Mano T, Tsubota T, Fukasawa K, Uno H. Estimation of breeding population size using DNA-based pedigree reconstruction in brown bears. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9246. [PMID: 36091344 PMCID: PMC9448969 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Robust estimates of demographic parameters are critical for effective wildlife conservation and management but are difficult to obtain for elusive species. We estimated the breeding and adult population sizes, as well as the minimum population size, in a high-density brown bear population on the Shiretoko Peninsula, in Hokkaido, Japan, using DNA-based pedigree reconstruction. A total of 1288 individuals, collected in and around the Shiretoko Peninsula between 1998 and 2020, were genotyped at 21 microsatellite loci. Among them, 499 individuals were identified by intensive genetic sampling conducted in two consecutive years (2019 and 2020) mainly by noninvasive methods (e.g., hair and fecal DNA). Among them, both parents were assigned for 330 bears, and either maternity or paternity was assigned to 47 and 76 individuals, respectively. The subsequent pedigree reconstruction indicated a range of breeding and adult (≥4 years old) population sizes: 128-173 for female breeders and 66-91 male breeders, and 155-200 for female adults and 84-109 male adults. The minimum population size was estimated to be 449 (252 females and 197 males) in 2019. Long-term continuous genetic sampling prior to a short-term intensive survey would enable parentage to be identified in a population with a high probability, thus enabling reliable estimates of breeding population size for elusive species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michito Shimozuru
- Laboratory of Wildlife Biology and Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Hokkaido University Sapporo Japan
| | - Mina Jimbo
- Laboratory of Wildlife Biology and Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Hokkaido University Sapporo Japan.,Hokkaido Research Organization Sapporo Japan
| | - Keisuke Adachi
- Laboratory of Wildlife Biology and Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Hokkaido University Sapporo Japan
| | - Kei Kawamura
- Laboratory of Wildlife Biology and Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Hokkaido University Sapporo Japan
| | - Yuri Shirane
- Laboratory of Wildlife Biology and Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Hokkaido University Sapporo Japan.,Hokkaido Research Organization Sapporo Japan
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Toshio Tsubota
- Laboratory of Wildlife Biology and Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Hokkaido University Sapporo Japan
| | - Keita Fukasawa
- Center for Environmental Biology and Ecosystem Studies National Institute for Environmental Studies Tsukuba Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Uno
- Faculty of Agriculture Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology Tokyo Japan
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6
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Marrotte RR, Howe EJ, Beauclerc KB, Potter D, Northrup JM. Explaining detection heterogeneity with finite mixture and non-Euclidean movement in spatially explicit capture-recapture models. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13490. [PMID: 35694380 PMCID: PMC9186326 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Landscape structure affects animal movement. Differences between landscapes may induce heterogeneity in home range size and movement rates among individuals within a population. These types of heterogeneity can cause bias when estimating population size or density and are seldom considered during analyses. Individual heterogeneity, attributable to unknown or unobserved covariates, is often modelled using latent mixture distributions, but these are demanding of data, and abundance estimates are sensitive to the parameters of the mixture distribution. A recent extension of spatially explicit capture-recapture models allows landscape structure to be modelled explicitly by incorporating landscape connectivity using non-Euclidean least-cost paths, improving inference, especially in highly structured (riparian & mountainous) landscapes. Our objective was to investigate whether these novel models could improve inference about black bear (Ursus americanus) density. We fit spatially explicit capture-recapture models with standard and complex structures to black bear data from 51 separate study areas. We found that non-Euclidean models were supported in over half of our study areas. Associated density estimates were higher and less precise than those from simple models and only slightly more precise than those from finite mixture models. Estimates were sensitive to the scale (pixel resolution) at which least-cost paths were calculated, but there was no consistent pattern across covariates or resolutions. Our results indicate that negative bias associated with ignoring heterogeneity is potentially severe. However, the most popular method for dealing with this heterogeneity (finite mixtures) yielded potentially unreliable point estimates of abundance that may not be comparable across surveys, even in data sets with 136-350 total detections, 3-5 detections per individual, 97-283 recaptures, and 80-254 spatial recaptures. In these same study areas with high sample sizes, we expected that landscape features would not severely constrain animal movements and modelling non-Euclidian distance would not consistently improve inference. Our results suggest caution in applying non-Euclidean SCR models when there is no clear landscape covariate that is known to strongly influence the movement of the focal species, and in applying finite mixture models except when abundant data are available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robby R. Marrotte
- Wildlife Research & Monitoring Section, Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Eric J. Howe
- Wildlife Research & Monitoring Section, Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kaela B. Beauclerc
- Wildlife Research & Monitoring Section, Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Derek Potter
- Wildlife Research & Monitoring Section, Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Joseph M. Northrup
- Wildlife Research & Monitoring Section, Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada,Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
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7
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Puckett EE, Davis IS. Spatial patterns of genetic diversity in eight bear (Ursidae) species. URSUS 2021. [DOI: 10.2192/ursus-d-20-00029.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Emily E. Puckett
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA
| | - Isis S. Davis
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA
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8
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Pettigrew P, Sigouin D, St‐Laurent M. Testing the precision and sensitivity of density estimates obtained with a camera-trap method revealed limitations and opportunities. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:7879-7889. [PMID: 34188858 PMCID: PMC8216954 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of camera traps in ecology helps affordably address questions about the distribution and density of cryptic and mobile species. The random encounter model (REM) is a camera-trap method that has been developed to estimate population densities using unmarked individuals. However, few studies have evaluated its reliability in the field, especially considering that this method relies on parameters obtained from collared animals (i.e., average speed, in km/h), which can be difficult to acquire at low cost and effort. Our objectives were to (1) assess the reliability of this camera-trap method and (2) evaluate the influence of parameters coming from different populations on density estimates. We estimated a reference density of black bears (Ursus americanus) in Forillon National Park (Québec, Canada) using a spatial capture-recapture estimator based on hair-snag stations. We calculated average speed using telemetry data acquired from four different bear populations located outside our study area and estimated densities using the REM. The reference density, determined with a Bayesian spatial capture-recapture model, was 2.87 individuals/10km2 [95% CI: 2.41-3.45], which was slightly lower (although not significatively different) than the different densities estimated using REM (ranging from 4.06-5.38 bears/10km2 depending on the average speed value used). Average speed values obtained from different populations had minor impacts on REM estimates when the difference in average speed between populations was low. Bias in speed values for slow-moving species had more influence on REM density estimates than for fast-moving species. We pointed out that a potential overestimation of density occurs when average speed is underestimated, that is, using GPS telemetry locations with large fix-rate intervals. Our study suggests that REM could be an affordable alternative to conventional spatial capture-recapture, but highlights the need for further research to control for potential bias associated with speed values determined using GPS telemetry data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Pettigrew
- Département de BiologieChimie et GéographieCentre for Forest ResearchUniversité du Québec à RimouskiRimouskiQCCanada
| | | | - Martin‐Hugues St‐Laurent
- Département de BiologieChimie et GéographieCentre for Northern StudiesCentre for Forest ResearchUniversité du Québec à RimouskiRimouskiQCCanada
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9
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Yannic G, Hagen O, Leugger F, Karger DN, Pellissier L. Harnessing paleo-environmental modeling and genetic data to predict intraspecific genetic structure. Evol Appl 2020; 13:1526-1542. [PMID: 32684974 PMCID: PMC7359836 DOI: 10.1111/eva.12986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Spatially explicit simulations of gene flow within complex landscapes could help forecast the responses of populations to global and anthropological changes. Simulating how past climate change shaped intraspecific genetic variation can provide a validation of models in anticipation of their use to predict future changes. We review simulation models that provide inferences on population genetic structure. Existing simulation models generally integrate complex demographic and genetic processes but are less focused on the landscape dynamics. In contrast to previous approaches integrating detailed demographic and genetic processes and only secondarily landscape dynamics, we present a model based on parsimonious biological mechanisms combining habitat suitability and cellular processes, applicable to complex landscapes. The simulation model takes as input (a) the species dispersal capacities as the main biological parameter, (b) the species habitat suitability, and (c) the landscape structure, modulating dispersal. Our model emphasizes the role of landscape features and their temporal dynamics in generating genetic differentiation among populations within species. We illustrate our model on caribou/reindeer populations sampled across the entire species distribution range in the Northern Hemisphere. We show that simulations over the past 21 kyr predict a population genetic structure that matches empirical data. This approach looking at the impact of historical landscape dynamics on intraspecific structure can be used to forecast population structure under climate change scenarios and evaluate how species range shifts might induce erosion of genetic variation within species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glenn Yannic
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes Univ. Savoie Mont Blanc CNRS LECA Grenoble France
| | - Oskar Hagen
- Landscape Ecology Department of Environmental Systems Sciensce Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems ETH Zürich Zürich Switzerland.,Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research Birmensdorf Switzerland
| | - Flurin Leugger
- Landscape Ecology Department of Environmental Systems Sciensce Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems ETH Zürich Zürich Switzerland.,Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research Birmensdorf Switzerland
| | - Dirk N Karger
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research Birmensdorf Switzerland
| | - Loïc Pellissier
- Landscape Ecology Department of Environmental Systems Sciensce Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems ETH Zürich Zürich Switzerland.,Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research Birmensdorf Switzerland
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10
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Bourret V, Albert V, April J, Côté G, Morissette O. Past, present and future contributions of evolutionary biology to wildlife forensics, management and conservation. Evol Appl 2020; 13:1420-1434. [PMID: 32684967 PMCID: PMC7359848 DOI: 10.1111/eva.12977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Revised: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Successfully implementing fundamental concepts into concrete applications is challenging in any given field. It requires communication, collaboration and shared will between researchers and practitioners. We argue that evolutionary biology, through research work linked to conservation, management and forensics, had a significant impact on wildlife agencies and department practices, where new frameworks and applications have been implemented over the last decades. The Quebec government's Wildlife Department (MFFP: Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs) has been proactive in reducing the “research–implementation” gap, thanks to prolific collaborations with many academic researchers. Among these associations, our department's outstanding partnership with Dr. Louis Bernatchez yielded significant contributions to harvest management, stocking programmes, definition of conservation units, recovery of threatened species, management of invasive species and forensic applications. We discuss key evolutionary biology concepts and resulting concrete examples of their successful implementation that derives directly or indirectly from this successful partnership. While old and new threats to wildlife are bringing new challenges, we expect recent developments in eDNA and genomics to provide innovative solutions as long as the research–implementation bridge remains open.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Bourret
- Direction générale de la protection de la faune Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs Québec QC Canada
| | - Vicky Albert
- Direction générale de la protection de la faune Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs Québec QC Canada
| | - Julien April
- Direction générale de la gestion de la faune et des habitats Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs Québec QC Canada
| | - Guillaume Côté
- Direction générale de la gestion de la faune et des habitats Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs Québec QC Canada
| | - Olivier Morissette
- Direction générale de la gestion de la faune et des habitats Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs Québec QC Canada
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11
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Harman RR, Goddard J, Shivaji R, Cronin JT. Frequency of Occurrence and Population-Dynamic Consequences of Different Forms of Density-Dependent Emigration. Am Nat 2020; 195:851-867. [DOI: 10.1086/708156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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12
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Fuller J, Ferchaud A, Laporte M, Le Luyer J, Davis TB, Côté SD, Bernatchez L. Absence of founder effect and evidence for adaptive divergence in a recently introduced insular population of white‐tailed deer (
Odocoileus virginianus
). Mol Ecol 2019; 29:86-104. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.15317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Revised: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jérémie Fuller
- Département de Biologie Université Laval Québec QC Canada
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Research Chair in Integrated Management of the Resources of Anticosti Island and Centre d'Études Nordiques (CEN) Québec QC Canada
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative des Systèmes (IBIS) Université Laval Québec QC Canada
| | - Anne‐Laure Ferchaud
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative des Systèmes (IBIS) Université Laval Québec QC Canada
| | - Martin Laporte
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative des Systèmes (IBIS) Université Laval Québec QC Canada
| | - Jérémy Le Luyer
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative des Systèmes (IBIS) Université Laval Québec QC Canada
| | | | - Steeve D. Côté
- Département de Biologie Université Laval Québec QC Canada
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Research Chair in Integrated Management of the Resources of Anticosti Island and Centre d'Études Nordiques (CEN) Québec QC Canada
| | - Louis Bernatchez
- Département de Biologie Université Laval Québec QC Canada
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative des Systèmes (IBIS) Université Laval Québec QC Canada
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Shirane Y, Shimozuru M, Yamanaka M, Tsuruga H, Nakanishi M, Ishinazaka T, Nose T, Kasai S, Shirayanagi M, Masuda Y, Fujimoto Y, Mano T, Sashika M, Tsubota T. Sex-biased dispersal and inbreeding avoidance in Hokkaido brown bears. J Mammal 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyz097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractNatal dispersal likely plays an important role in avoiding inbreeding among large carnivores. We tested the hypothesis that male-biased dispersal reduces close inbreeding by limiting the spatial overlap of opposite-sex pairs of close relatives in brown bears (Ursus arctos) in the Shiretoko Peninsula, Hokkaido, Japan. We genotyped 837 individuals collected in 1998–2017 at 21 microsatellite loci and performed parentage analysis. To calculate natal dispersal distance, we considered the site where the mother was identified as the birthplace of her offspring, and the site where the offspring were identified as their dispersed place. As predicted, we found that dispersal distances were significantly greater for males (12.4 km ± 1.0) than for females (7.7 km ± 0.9), and those for males increased from 3 years old, indicating that males begin to disperse around the time sexual maturation begins. Relatedness decreased with distance among pairs of females, and the mean relatedness was significantly higher between pairs of females than between pairs of males or between female–male pairs within 3 km. Closely related female–male pairs rarely (5–6%) resided in close proximity (< 3 km), compared with pairs of closely related females. Our study revealed that the potential for close inbreeding was low in Hokkaido brown bears because males are effective dispersers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuri Shirane
- Department of Environmental Veterinary Science, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18 Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Michito Shimozuru
- Department of Environmental Veterinary Science, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18 Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Masami Yamanaka
- Department of Environmental Veterinary Science, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18 Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Hifumi Tsuruga
- Hokkaido Research Organization, Kita, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | | | | | | | - Shinsuke Kasai
- Shiretoko Nature Foundation, Iwaubetsu, Shari, Hokkaido, Japan
| | | | - Yasushi Masuda
- Shiretoko Nature Foundation, Iwaubetsu, Shari, Hokkaido, Japan
- Shari Town Office, 12 Hon-machi, Shari, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Yasushi Fujimoto
- South Shiretoko Brown Bear Information Center, Shibetsu, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Mano
- Hokkaido Research Organization, Kita, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | | | - Toshio Tsubota
- Department of Environmental Veterinary Science, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18 Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
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14
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Kristensen T, Means M, Eggert LS, Smith KG, White D. Demographics of American black bear populations following changes in harvest policy. URSUS 2019. [DOI: 10.2192/ursus-d-18-00002.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Thea Kristensen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
| | - Myron Means
- Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Fort Smith, AR 72916, USA
| | - Lori S. Eggert
- Division of Biological Sciences, Tucker Hall, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Kimberly G. Smith
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
| | - Don White
- University of Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Arkansas Forest Resources Center, University of Arkansas-Monticello, Monticello, AR 71655, USA
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15
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Evans MJ, Rittenhouse TAG, Hawley JE, Rego PW, Eggert LS. Spatial genetic patterns indicate mechanism and consequences of large carnivore cohabitation within development. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:4815-4829. [PMID: 29876060 PMCID: PMC5980631 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Revised: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Patterns of human development are shifting from concentrated housing toward sprawled housing intermixed with natural land cover, and wildlife species increasingly persist in close proximity to housing, roads, and other anthropogenic features. These associations can alter population dynamics and evolutionary trajectories. Large carnivores increasingly occupy urban peripheries, yet the ecological consequences for populations established entirely within urban and exurban landscapes are largely unknown. We applied a spatial and landscape genetics approach, using noninvasively collected genetic data, to identify differences in black bear spatial genetic patterns across a rural‐to‐urban gradient and quantify how development affects spatial genetic processes. We quantified differences in black bear dispersal, spatial genetic structure, and migration between differing levels of development within a population primarily occupying areas with >6 houses/km2 in western Connecticut. Increased development disrupted spatial genetic structure, and we found an association between increased housing densities and longer dispersal. We also found evidence that roads limited gene flow among bears in more rural areas, yet had no effect among bears in more developed ones. These results suggest dispersal behavior is condition‐dependent and indicate the potential for landscapes intermixing development and natural land cover to facilitate shifts toward increased dispersal. These changes can affect patterns of range expansion and the phenotypic and genetic composition of surrounding populations. We found evidence that subpopulations occupying more developed landscapes may be sustained by male‐biased immigration, creating potentially detrimental demographic shifts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Evans
- Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Center Department of Natural Resources and the Environment University of Connecticut Storrs CT USA
| | - Tracy A G Rittenhouse
- Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Center Department of Natural Resources and the Environment University of Connecticut Storrs CT USA
| | - Jason E Hawley
- Wildlife Division Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Sessions Woods WMA Burlington CT USA
| | - Paul W Rego
- Wildlife Division Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Sessions Woods WMA Burlington CT USA
| | - Lori S Eggert
- Division of Biological Sciences University of Missouri Columbia MO USA
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16
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Kristensen TV, Puckett EE, Landguth EL, Belant JL, Hast JT, Carpenter C, Sajecki JL, Beringer J, Means M, Cox JJ, Eggert LS, White D, Smith KG. Spatial genetic structure in American black bears (Ursus americanus): female philopatry is variable and related to population history. Heredity (Edinb) 2018; 120:329-341. [PMID: 29234157 PMCID: PMC5842220 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-017-0019-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2016] [Accepted: 09/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Previously, American black bears (Ursus americanus) were thought to follow the pattern of female philopatry and male-biased dispersal. However, recent studies have identified deviations from this pattern. Such flexibility in dispersal patterns can allow individuals greater ability to acclimate to changing environments. We explored dispersal and spatial genetic relatedness patterns across ten black bear populations-including long established (historic), with known reproduction >50 years ago, and newly established (recent) populations, with reproduction recorded <50 years ago-in the Interior Highlands and Southern Appalachian Mountains, United States. We used spatially explicit, individual-based genetic simulations to model gene flow under scenarios with varying levels of population density, genetic diversity, and female philopatry. Using measures of genetic distance and spatial autocorrelation, we compared metrics between sexes, between population types (historic and recent), and among simulated scenarios which varied in density, genetic diversity, and sex-biased philopatry. In empirical populations, females in recent populations exhibited stronger patterns of isolation-by-distance (IBD) than females and males in historic populations. In simulated populations, low-density populations had a stronger indication of IBD than medium- to high-density populations; however, this effect varied in empirical populations. Condition-dependent dispersal strategies may permit species to cope with novel conditions and rapidly expand populations. Pattern-process modeling can provide qualitative and quantitative means to explore variable dispersal patterns, and could be employed in other species, particularly to anticipate range shifts in response to changing climate and habitat conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thea V Kristensen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Science and Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA.
- Biology Department, Amherst College, P.O. Box 5000, Amherst, MA, 01002, USA.
| | - Emily E Puckett
- Division of Biological Sciences, Tucker Hall, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences and the Louis Calder Center-Biological Field Station, Fordham University, Armonk, NY, 10504, USA
| | - Erin L Landguth
- Computational Ecology Laboratory, School of Public and Community Health Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Jerrold L Belant
- Carnivore Ecology Laboratory, Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Starkville, MS, USA
| | - John T Hast
- Department of Forestry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Colin Carpenter
- West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Beckley, WV, USA
| | - Jaime L Sajecki
- Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Forest, VA, USA
| | - Jeff Beringer
- Missouri Department of Conservation, Resource Science Center, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Myron Means
- Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Fort Smith, AR, USA
| | - John J Cox
- Carnivore Ecology Laboratory, Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Starkville, MS, USA
| | - Lori S Eggert
- Division of Biological Sciences, Tucker Hall, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Don White
- University of Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Arkansas Forest Resources Center, University of Arkansas-Monticello, Monticello, AR, USA
| | - Kimberly G Smith
- Department of Biological Sciences, Science and Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA
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17
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Draheim HM, Lopez V, Etter D, Winterstein SR, Scribner KT. Effects of sampling scale on American black bear spatial genetic structure. URSUS 2015. [DOI: 10.2192/ursus-d-15-00011.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hope M. Draheim
- Eagle Fish Genetics Lab, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, 1800 Trout Road, Eagle, ID 83616, USA
| | - Veronica Lopez
- Allegheny National Forest, Marienville Ranger District, 131 Smokey Lane, Marienville, PA 16239, USA
| | - Dwayne Etter
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Division, 8562 E Stoll Road, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA
| | - Scott R. Winterstein
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Kim T. Scribner
- Eagle Fish Genetics Lab, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, 1800 Trout Road, Eagle, ID 83616, USA
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18
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Simek SL, Belant JL, Fan Z, Young BW, Leopold BD, Fleming J, Waller B. Source populations and roads affect American black bear recolonization. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-015-0933-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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19
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King WJ, Garant D, Festa-Bianchet M. Mother-offspring distances reflect sex differences in fine-scale genetic structure of eastern grey kangaroos. Ecol Evol 2015; 5:2084-94. [PMID: 26045958 PMCID: PMC4449761 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2015] [Accepted: 03/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Natal dispersal affects life history and population biology and causes gene flow. In mammals, dispersal is usually male-biased so that females tend to be philopatric and surrounded by matrilineal kin, which may lead to preferential associations among female kin. Here we combine genetic analyses and behavioral observations to investigate spatial genetic structure and sex-biased dispersal patterns in a high-density population of mammals showing fission–fusion group dynamics. We studied eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) over 2 years at Wilsons Promontory National Park, Australia, and found weak fine-scale genetic structure among adult females in both years but no structure among adult males. Immature male kangaroos moved away from their mothers at 18–25 months of age, while immature females remained near their mothers until older. A higher proportion of male (34%) than female (6%) subadults and young adults were observed to disperse, although median distances of detected dispersals were similar for both sexes. Adult females had overlapping ranges that were far wider than the maximum extent of spatial genetic structure found. Female kangaroos, although weakly philopatric, mostly encounter nonrelatives in fission–fusion groups at high density, and therefore kinship is unlikely to strongly affect sociality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy J King
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland St. Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia ; Biology Department, Bishop's University 2600 College St., Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1M 1Z7, Canada
| | - Dany Garant
- Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke 2500 boul. de l'Université, Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1K 2R1, Canada
| | - Marco Festa-Bianchet
- Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke 2500 boul. de l'Université, Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1K 2R1, Canada ; School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
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20
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Fronhofer EA, Kropf T, Altermatt F. Density-dependent movement and the consequences of the Allee effect in the model organism Tetrahymena. J Anim Ecol 2014; 84:712-722. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2014] [Accepted: 10/26/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Emanuel A. Fronhofer
- Department of Aquatic Ecology; Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology; Überlandstrasse 133 CH-8600 Dübendorf Switzerland
| | - Tabea Kropf
- Department of Environmental Systems Science; ETH Zürich; CH-8092 Zürich Switzerland
| | - Florian Altermatt
- Department of Aquatic Ecology; Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology; Überlandstrasse 133 CH-8600 Dübendorf Switzerland
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies; University of Zurich; Winterthurerstrasse 190 CH-8057 Zürich Switzerland
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21
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Immell D, Jackson DH, Boulay MC. Home-Range Size and Subadult Dispersal of Black Bears in the Cascade Range of Western Oregon. WEST N AM NATURALIST 2014. [DOI: 10.3398/064.074.0308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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22
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Roy J, Gray M, Stoinski T, Robbins MM, Vigilant L. Fine-scale genetic structure analyses suggest further male than female dispersal in mountain gorillas. BMC Ecol 2014; 14:21. [PMID: 25001262 PMCID: PMC4113491 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6785-14-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2013] [Accepted: 06/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Molecular studies in social mammals rarely compare the inferences gained from genetic analyses with field information, especially in the context of dispersal. In this study, we used genetic data to elucidate sex-specific dispersal dynamics in the Virunga Massif mountain gorilla population (Gorilla beringei beringei), a primate species characterized by routine male and female dispersal from stable mixed-sex social groups. Specifically, we conducted spatial genetic structure analyses for each sex and linked our genetically-based observations with some key demographic and behavioural data from this population. RESULTS To investigate the spatial genetic structure of mountain gorillas, we analysed the genotypes of 193 mature individuals at 11 microsatellite loci by means of isolation-by-distance and spatial autocorrelation analyses. Although not all males and females disperse, female gorillas displayed an isolation-by-distance pattern among groups and a signal of dispersal at short distances from their natal group based on spatial autocorrelation analyses. In contrast, male genotypes were not correlated with spatial distance, thus suggesting a larger mean dispersal distance for males as compared to females. Both within sex and mixed-sex pairs were on average genetically more related within groups than among groups. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides evidence for an intersexual difference in dispersal distance in the mountain gorilla. Overall, it stresses the importance of investigating spatial genetic structure patterns on a sex-specific basis to better understand the dispersal dynamics of the species under investigation. It is currently poorly understood why some male and female gorillas disperse while others remain in the natal group. Our results on average relatedness within and across groups confirm that groups often contain close relatives. While inbreeding avoidance may play a role in driving female dispersal, we note that more detailed dyadic genetic analyses are needed to shed light on the role of inbreeding avoidance as an ultimate cause of female dispersal in mountain gorillas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Roy
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, D-04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Maryke Gray
- International Gorilla Conservation Program, P.O. Box 931, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Tara Stoinski
- The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International and Zoo Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia 30315, USA
| | - Martha M Robbins
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, D-04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Linda Vigilant
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, D-04103, Leipzig, Germany
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23
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Pflüger FJ, Balkenhol N. A plea for simultaneously considering matrix quality and local environmental conditions when analysing landscape impacts on effective dispersal. Mol Ecol 2014; 23:2146-56. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.12712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2013] [Revised: 02/23/2014] [Accepted: 03/02/2014] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Femke J. Pflüger
- Department of Wildlife Sciences; University of Goettingen; Buesgenweg 3 Goettingen 37077 Germany
| | - Niko Balkenhol
- Department of Wildlife Sciences; University of Goettingen; Buesgenweg 3 Goettingen 37077 Germany
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24
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Moore JA, Draheim HM, Etter D, Winterstein S, Scribner KT. Application of large-scale parentage analysis for investigating natal dispersal in highly vagile vertebrates: a case study of American black bears (Ursus americanus). PLoS One 2014; 9:e91168. [PMID: 24621593 PMCID: PMC3951290 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0091168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2013] [Accepted: 02/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the factors that affect dispersal is a fundamental question in ecology and conservation biology, particularly as populations are faced with increasing anthropogenic impacts. Here we collected georeferenced genetic samples (n = 2,540) from three generations of black bears (Ursus americanus) harvested in a large (47,739 km2), geographically isolated population and used parentage analysis to identify mother-offspring dyads (n = 337). We quantified the effects of sex, age, habitat type and suitability, and local harvest density at the natal and settlement sites on the probability of natal dispersal, and on dispersal distances. Dispersal was male-biased (76% of males dispersed) but a small proportion (21%) of females also dispersed, and female dispersal distances (mean ± SE = 48.9±7.7 km) were comparable to male dispersal distances (59.0±3.2 km). Dispersal probabilities and dispersal distances were greatest for bears in areas with high habitat suitability and low harvest density. The inverse relationship between dispersal and harvest density in black bears suggests that 1) intensive harvest promotes restricted dispersal, or 2) high black bear population density decreases the propensity to disperse. Multigenerational genetic data collected over large landscape scales can be a powerful means of characterizing dispersal patterns and causal associations with demographic and landscape features in wild populations of elusive and wide-ranging species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A. Moore
- Biology Department, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Hope M. Draheim
- Department of Zoology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Dwayne Etter
- Wildlife Division, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Scott Winterstein
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Kim T. Scribner
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
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25
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Marjamäki PH, Contasti AL, Coulson TN, McLoughlin PD. Local density and group size interacts with age and sex to determine direction and rate of social dispersal in a polygynous mammal. Ecol Evol 2013; 3:3073-82. [PMID: 24101995 PMCID: PMC3790552 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2013] [Revised: 06/22/2013] [Accepted: 06/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Movement away from an area or social group in response to increasing density (density-dependent dispersal) is known for most species; why it evolves is fundamental to our understanding of ecology and evolution. However, we have yet to fully appreciate how individuals of varying conditions (e.g., age and sex) might differently consider effects of density (quorum) when deciding to disperse or not, and scale dependence in their sense of quorum. We tracked movements of all individuals of a naturalized population of feral horses (Equus ferus caballus; Sable Island National Park Reserve, Nova Scotia, Canada) during a period of rapid population growth (N increased from 375 to 484 horses from 2008 to 2010). Permanent dispersal from breeding groups (bands) was positively density dependent for all age and sex categories with respect to local density (horses/km2, bounded by the 99th percentile of individual movements [8000 m]), but was negatively and positively density dependent for males and females, respectively, in relation to group (band) size. Dispersal was generally female biased, with the exception of foals which moved with their mothers (no sex effect), and for yearlings and subadults when band sizes were smaller than average, in which case males dispersed at higher rates than females. Dispersal distance was positively related to local density. We conclude that dispersal rate can be both positively and negatively density dependent for feral horses, contingent on the state of individuals and the scale at which quorum with respect to choosing to disperse or not is assessed. Scale effects and interactions of density-dependent and sex- and age-biased dispersal may have both ecological and evolutionary consequences through effects on resource and mate competition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula H Marjamäki
- Department of Biological Sciences, Imperial College Silwood Park, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7PY, UK
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