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Świsłocka M, Ratkiewicz M, Borkowska A. Simultaneous Infection of Elaphostrongylus Nematode Species and Parasite Sharing between Sympatrically Occurring Cervids: Moose, Roe Deer, and Red Deer in Poland. Pathogens 2021; 10:1344. [PMID: 34684292 PMCID: PMC8540609 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10101344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
It is important to assess the distribution of parasite species across wildlife populations, to design strategies for game management and effective disease control in nature. In this project we quantified the prevalence of Elaphostrongylus species in eight moose populations. We used molecular methods for identification of parasite species and host individual genotypes from fecal samples. We also demonstrated sharing of parasite species between three cervid hosts sympatrically occurring in the Biebrza River valley, North-Eastern Poland, which is occupied by the largest autochthonous, non-harvested moose population in Central Europe. Nematode species from the genus Elaphostrongylus are ubiquitous in the studied moose populations. The presence of a single parasite species (e.g., E. alces) in moose individuals was more common than simultaneous infection with E. alces and E. cervi. The prevalence of both E. alces and E. cervi was higher in males than females. The distribution of E. alces and E. cervi prevalence in moose, roe deer, and red deer were in accordance with the membership of a host to a subfamily. Simultaneous occurrences of both Elaphostrongylus species were significantly more frequently noted in red deer fecal samples than those collected from moose or roe deer. Thus, we consider red deer to play a dominant role in sharing of those nematodes to other cervids. Our findings promote applications of molecular methods of identifying parasite species and the assessment of the exchange of parasite community between wild ruminant species in management and health monitoring of game animal populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Świsłocka
- Department of Zoology and Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Białystok, Ciołkowskiego 1J, 15-245 Białystok, Poland; (M.R.); (A.B.)
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Janík T, Peters W, Šálek M, Romportl D, Jirků M, Engleder T, Ernst M, Neudert J, Heurich M. The declining occurrence of moose ( Alces alces) at the southernmost edge of its range raise conservation concerns. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:5468-5483. [PMID: 34026021 PMCID: PMC8131793 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The border region between Austria, the Czech Republic, and Germany harbors the most south-western occurrence of moose in continental Europe. The population originated in Poland, where moose survived, immigrated from former Soviet Union or were reintroduced after the Second World War expanded west- and southwards. In recent years, the distribution of the nonetheless small Central European population seems to have declined, necessitating an evaluation of its current status. In this study, existing datasets of moose observations from 1958 to 2019 collected in the three countries were combined to create a database totaling 771 records (observations and deaths). The database was then used to analyze the following: (a) changes in moose distribution, (b) the most important mortality factors, and (c) the availability of suitable habitat as determined using a maximum entropy approach. The results showed a progressive increase in the number of moose observations after 1958, with peaks in the 1990s and around 2010, followed by a relatively steep drop after 2013. Mortality within the moose population was mostly due to human interactions, including 13 deadly wildlife-vehicle collisions, particularly on minor roads, and four animals that were either legally culled or poached. Our habitat model suggested that higher altitudes (ca. 700-1,000 m a.s.l.), especially those offering wetlands, broad-leaved forests and natural grasslands, are the preferred habitats of moose whereas steep slopes and areas of human activity are avoided. The habitat model also revealed the availability of large core areas of suitable habitat beyond the current distribution, suggesting that habitat was not the limiting factor explaining the moose distribution in the study area. Our findings call for immediate transboundary conservation measures to sustain the moose population, such as those aimed at preventing wildlife-vehicle collisions and illegal killings. Infrastructure planning and development activities must take into account the habitat requirements of moose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomáš Janík
- Faculty of ScienceDepartment of Physical Geography and GeoecologyCharles UniversityPrahaCzechia
- Department of Spatial EcologySilva Tarouca Research Institute for Landscape and Ornamental GardeningPrůhoniceCzechia
- Department of Visitor Management and National Park MonitoringBavarian Forest National ParkGrafenauGermany
| | - Wibke Peters
- Bavarian State Institute of ForestryFreisingGermany
| | - Martin Šálek
- Czech Academy of SciencesInstitute of Vertebrate BiologyBrnoCzechia
- Faculty of Environmental SciencesCzech University of Life Sciences PraguePrahaCzechia
| | - Dušan Romportl
- Faculty of ScienceDepartment of Physical Geography and GeoecologyCharles UniversityPrahaCzechia
- Department of Spatial EcologySilva Tarouca Research Institute for Landscape and Ornamental GardeningPrůhoniceCzechia
| | - Miloslav Jirků
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of SciencesInstitute of ParasitologyČeské BudějoviceCzechia
| | | | - Martin Ernst
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood TechnologyDepartment of Forest Protection and Wildlife ManagementMendel University in BrnoBrnoCzechia
| | - Jiří Neudert
- Administration of Třeboňsko Protected Landscape Area and Biospheric ReservationTřeboňCzechia
| | - Marco Heurich
- Department of Visitor Management and National Park MonitoringBavarian Forest National ParkGrafenauGermany
- Faculty of Environment and Natural ResourcesChair of Wildlife Ecology and ManagementUniversity of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
- Inland Norway University of Applied ScienceInstitute for Forest and Wildlife ManagementKoppangNorway
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Filip-Hutsch K, Czopowicz M, Barc A, Demiaszkiewicz AW. Gastrointestinal Helminths of a European Moose Population in Poland. Pathogens 2021; 10:456. [PMID: 33920333 PMCID: PMC8070461 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10040456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasitic infections have a negative impact on the fecundity and survival of wild ruminants, particularly moose; however, despite being more susceptible to parasitic diseases than other wild cervids, they remain poorly examined in this regard. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to identify gastrointestinal and liver helminth species of the moose population in central Europe, assess the factors contributing to infection intensities and examine their impact on moose health. Abomasum, small intestine, caecum and liver samples were collected from 46 moose in Poland and evaluated for helminth parasite fauna and histopathological changes. Additionally, 289 moose fecal samples were analyzed for the presence of eggs, oocysts and larvae of parasites. In total, 19 parasite taxa were identified. The most prevalent were Mazamastrongylus dagestanica and Ostertagia antipini, which are typical nematodes of moose, together with Spiculopteragia boehmi and O. leptospicularis, characteristic also of other cervids. Parasite species diversity and abomasal parasitic infection intensity were higher in adult moose than in yearlings and calves. The numbers of histopathological lesions depended on the intensity of parasitic infections, and were most severe in the livers of moose infected with Parafasciolopsis fasciolaemorpha. The analysis of fecal samples revealed several regional differences in the levels of parasite eggs, oocysts and larvae shedding. Our findings indicate an accumulation of parasite infections over time in moose, which may be related to high environmental parasite pressure, possibly connected with high moose density and the presence of wetlands; they also serve as the most comprehensive study of moose parasites in central Europe to date.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michał Czopowicz
- Division of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences–SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159c, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Agnieszka Barc
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory ALAB bioscience, Krucza 13, 05-090 Rybie, Poland;
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Świsłocka M, Borkowska A, Matosiuk M, Czajkowska M, Duda N, Kowalczyk R, Ratkiewicz M. Sex-biased polyparasitism in moose ( Alces alces) based on molecular analysis of faecal samples. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2020; 13:171-177. [PMID: 33134076 PMCID: PMC7591323 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2020.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Simultaneous infection with multiple parasite species in an individual host is often observed in wild populations. The understanding of parasite species distribution across populations of wild animals is of basic and applied importance, because parasites can have pronounced effects on the dynamics of host population. Here, we quantified prevalence and endoparasite species richness in moose and explored sex-biased polyparasitism using diagnostic PCR method coupled with DNA sequencing of moose faecal samples from the Biebrza River valley, North-Eastern Poland. This is the largest moose population in Central Europe that has not been harvested for almost 20 years. We also evaluated the appropriate quantity of faeces for detecting DNA of parasite species. Faecal samples were screened for molecular markers of 10 different species of endoparasites. Endoparasite prevalence was high in the studied population. Almost all of the samples (98%) tested positive for at least one parasite species, and we found polyparasitism in the majority of the tested individuals. The number of different parasite species found in a single individual ranged from 0 to 9. The parasite species richness was significantly higher in male than in female individuals. The most prevalent were liver fluke Parafasciolopsis fasciolaemorpha and gastrointestinal nematodes Ostertargia sp. Of the ten endoparasite species detected, only the prevalence of the tapeworm Moniezia benedeni was significantly higher in males than in females. Additionally, we identified co-occurrence associations of parasite species, which tended to be random, but we noted some evidence of both positive and negative associations. Our findings promote applications of molecular methods for parasite species identification from non-invasively collected faecal samples in management and scientific study of moose population, which should include investigation of parasite status, and in health monitoring programs for other wild cervids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Świsłocka
- Department of Zoology and Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Bialystok, Ciołkowskiego 1J st, 15-245, Białystok, Poland
| | - Anetta Borkowska
- Department of Zoology and Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Bialystok, Ciołkowskiego 1J st, 15-245, Białystok, Poland
| | - Maciej Matosiuk
- Department of Zoology and Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Bialystok, Ciołkowskiego 1J st, 15-245, Białystok, Poland
| | - Magdalena Czajkowska
- Department of Zoology and Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Bialystok, Ciołkowskiego 1J st, 15-245, Białystok, Poland
| | - Norbert Duda
- Zespół Szkół Ogólnokształcących No 2 W Białymstoku, Narewska 11, 15-840, Białystok, Poland
| | - Rafał Kowalczyk
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Stoczek 1, 17-230, Białowieża, Poland
| | - Mirosław Ratkiewicz
- Department of Zoology and Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Bialystok, Ciołkowskiego 1J st, 15-245, Białystok, Poland
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Filip-Hutsch K, Czopowicz M, Świsłocka M, Ratkiewicz M, Borkowska A, Kowalczyk R, Demiaszkiewicz AW. Patterns of parasite eggs, oocysts and larvae shedding by moose in the Biebrza marshland (NE Poland). Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2020; 11:191-197. [PMID: 32140405 PMCID: PMC7047143 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2020.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Revised: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The study analyses patterns of endoparasite eggs, oocysts and larvae shedding by moose from the relict population in the Biebrza marshland, NE Poland, which has grown to be one of the largest in Central Europe since the ban on hunting imposed in 2001. The analysis identified 10 species or groups of parasites among 230 faecal moose samples collected over 16 consequent months. The most prevalent were the eggs of Trichostrongylidae, Trichuris spp., Nematodirella alcidis, Parafasciolopsis fasciolaemorpha and the larvae of Elaphostrongylus sp. Four parasite species were more prevalent in males, indicating male-biased parasitism, and the studied moose population exhibited a female-skewed sex ratio. Nematodirella alcidis eggs and Protostrongylid larvae were more prevalent during winter, which indicated their resistance to harsh weather conditions. The prevalence of Eimeria alces and Aonchotheca sp. increased during the growing season, as did the number of eggs per gram of faeces (EPG) of P. fasciolaemorpha, possibly due to the availability of water sources. Higher mean monthly temperature was also found to have a positive effect on the excretion of Trichostrongylidae and Moniezia spp. eggs. In addition, the time of infection and the specificity of the parasite life cycle, being sensitive to certain climatic conditions, also appeared to have a strong influence on eggs, oocysts and larvae shedding in this non-harvested moose population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michał Czopowicz
- Division of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences–SGGW, Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Magdalena Świsłocka
- Institute of Biology, University of Białystok, Ciołkowskiego 1J, 15-245, Białystok, Poland
| | - Mirosław Ratkiewicz
- Institute of Biology, University of Białystok, Ciołkowskiego 1J, 15-245, Białystok, Poland
| | - Anetta Borkowska
- Institute of Biology, University of Białystok, Ciołkowskiego 1J, 15-245, Białystok, Poland
| | - Rafał Kowalczyk
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Stoczek 1, 17-230, Białowieża, Poland
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Stojak J, Tarnowska E. Polish suture zone as the goblet of truth in post-glacial history of mammals in Europe. MAMMAL RES 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-019-00433-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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Living on the edge – The predicted impact of renewed hunting on moose in national parks in Poland. Basic Appl Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2018.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Phylogeography of European moose (Alces alces) based on contemporary mtDNA data and archaeological records. Mamm Biol 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2017.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Nemoikina OV, Kholodova MV, Tyutenkov OY, Moskvitina NS. Mitotypical peculiarities of the population of moose Alces alces of southeastern West Siberia. BIOL BULL+ 2016. [DOI: 10.1134/s1062359016040117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Niedziałkowska M, Jędrzejewska B, Danyłow J, Niedziałkowski K. Diverse rates of gene flow and long-distance migration in two moose Alces alces subpopulations in Europe. MAMMAL RES 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-016-0274-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Adams CE, Bean CW, Dodd JA, Down A, Etheridge EC, Gowans ARD, Hooker O, Knudsen R, Lyle AA, Winfield IJ, Præbel K. Inter and intra-population phenotypic and genotypic structuring in the European whitefish Coregonus lavaretus, a rare freshwater fish in Scotland. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2016; 88:580-594. [PMID: 26748995 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.12855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2014] [Accepted: 11/02/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
This study revealed between-lake genetic structuring between Coregonus lavaretus collected from the only two native populations of this species in Scotland, U.K. (Lochs Eck and Lomond) evidenced by the existence of private alleles (12 in Lomond and four in Eck) and significant genetic differentiation (FST = 0·056) across 10 microsatellite markers. Juvenile C. lavaretus originating from eggs collected from the two lakes and reared in a common-garden experiment showed clear phenotypic differences in trophic morphology (i.e. head and body shape) between these populations indicating that these characteristics were, at least partly, inherited. Microsatellite analysis of adults collected from different geographic regions within Loch Lomond revealed detectable and statistically significant but relatively weak genetic structuring (FST = 0·001-0·024) and evidence of private alleles related to the basin structure of the lake. Within-lake genetic divergence patterns suggest three possibilities for this observed pattern: (1) differential selection pressures causing divergence into separate gene pools, (2) a collapse of two formerly divergent gene pools and (3) a stable state maintained by balancing selection forces resulting from spatial variation in selection and lake heterogeneity. Small estimates of effective population sizes for the populations in both lakes suggest that the capacity of both populations to adapt to future environmental change may be limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- C E Adams
- Scottish Centre for Ecology and the Natural Environment, University of Glasgow, Rowardennan, Glasgow G63 0AW, U.K
| | - C W Bean
- Scottish Natural Heritage, Caspian House, Clydebank Business Park, Clydebank, Glasgow G81 2NR, U.K
| | - J A Dodd
- Scottish Centre for Ecology and the Natural Environment, University of Glasgow, Rowardennan, Glasgow G63 0AW, U.K
| | - A Down
- Scottish Centre for Ecology and the Natural Environment, University of Glasgow, Rowardennan, Glasgow G63 0AW, U.K
| | - E C Etheridge
- Scottish Centre for Ecology and the Natural Environment, University of Glasgow, Rowardennan, Glasgow G63 0AW, U.K
| | - A R D Gowans
- Environment Agency, Ghyll Mount, Gillan Way, Penrith 40 Business Park, Penrith, Cumbria CA11 9BP, U.K
| | - O Hooker
- Scottish Centre for Ecology and the Natural Environment, University of Glasgow, Rowardennan, Glasgow G63 0AW, U.K
| | - R Knudsen
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway
| | - A A Lyle
- Scottish Centre for Ecology and the Natural Environment, University of Glasgow, Rowardennan, Glasgow G63 0AW, U.K
| | - I J Winfield
- Lake Ecosystems Group, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, U.K
| | - K Præbel
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway
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Niedziałkowska M, Hundertmark KJ, Jędrzejewska B, Sidorovich VE, Zalewska H, Veeroja R, Solberg EJ, Laaksonen S, Sand H, Solovyev VA, Sagaydak A, Tiainen J, Juškaitis R, Done G, Borodulin VA, Tulandin EA, Niedziałkowski K. The contemporary genetic pattern of European moose is shaped by postglacial recolonization, bottlenecks, and the geographical barrier of the Baltic Sea. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/bij.12713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Kris J. Hundertmark
- Mammal Research Institute; Polish Academy of Sciences; Białowieża 17-230 Poland
- Institute of Arctic Biology and Department of Biology and Wildlife; University of Alaska; Fairbanks P.O. Box 757000 AK 99775-7000 USA
| | | | - Vadim E. Sidorovich
- Institute of Zoology; Scientific and Practical Centre for Biological Resources; National Academy of Sciences of Belarus; Minsk BY-220072 Republic of Belarus
| | - Hanna Zalewska
- Mammal Research Institute; Polish Academy of Sciences; Białowieża 17-230 Poland
| | - Rauno Veeroja
- Department of Zoology; Institute of Ecology and Earth Science; University of Tartu; Tartu 51014 Estonia
| | - Erling J. Solberg
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research; P.O. Box 5685 Sluppen Trondheim NO-7485 Norway
| | | | - Håkan Sand
- Grimsö Research Station; Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences; 73091 Riddarhyttan Sweden
| | - Vyacheslav A. Solovyev
- Department of Animal Ecology; B. M. Zhitkov Russian Research Institute of Game Management and Fur Farming; Kirov 610000 Russia
| | - Andrey Sagaydak
- Mizhrichynskyi Regional Landscape Park; Otrokhy; Kozelets Raion Chernihiv Oblast, Ukraine
| | - Juha Tiainen
- Natural Resources Institute Finland; Helsinki 00790 Finland
| | - Rimvydas Juškaitis
- Institute of Ecology; Nature Research Centre; Vilnius LT-08412 Lithuania
| | - Gundega Done
- Latvian State Forest Research Institute ‘Silava’; Salaspils 2169 Latvia
| | - Vadim A. Borodulin
- Inter-regional Non-governmental Organization ‘Leningrad Association of Hunters and Fishermen’; Sankt Petersburg 190121 Russia
| | - Evgenii A. Tulandin
- Non-commercial Partnership ‘Union of Gamekeepers of the Kostroma Region’; Kostroma Russia
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Kholodova MV, Korytin NS, Bolshakov VN. The role of the urals in the genetic diversity of the European moose subspecies (Alces alces alces). BIOL BULL+ 2014. [DOI: 10.1134/s1062359014060053] [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]
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