Genetic diversity and structure related to expansion history and habitat isolation: stone marten populating rural–urban habitats

Abstract

BackgroundPopulation genetic diversity and structure are determined by past and current evolutionary processes, among which spatially limited dispersal, genetic drift, and shifts in species distribution boundaries have major effects. In most wildlife species, environmental modifications by humans often lead to contraction of species’ ranges and/or limit their dispersal by acting as environmental barriers. However, in species well adapted to anthropogenic habitat or open landscapes, human induced environmental changes may facilitate dispersal and range expansions. In this study, we analysed whether isolation by distance and deforestation, among other environmental features, promotes or restricts dispersal and expansion in stone marten (Martes foina) populations.ResultsWe genotyped 298 martens from eight sites at twenty-two microsatellite loci to characterize the genetic variability, population structure and demographic history of stone martens in Poland. At the landscape scale, limited genetic differentiation between sites in a mosaic of urban, rural and forest habitats was mostly influenced by isolation by distance. Statistical clustering and multivariate analyses showed weak genetic structuring with two to four clusters and a high rate of gene flow between them. Stronger genetic differentiation was detected for one stone marten population (NE1) located inside a large forest complex. Genetic differentiation between this site and all others was 20% higher than between other sites separated by similar distances. The genetic uniqueness index of NE1 was also twofold higher than in other sites. Past demographic history analyses showed recent expansion of this species in north-eastern Poland. A decrease in genetic diversity from south to north, and MIGRAINE analyses indicated the direction of expansion of stone marten.ConclusionsOur results showed that two processes, changes in species distribution boundaries and limited dispersal associated with landscape barriers, affect genetic diversity and structure in stone marten. Analysis of local barriers that reduced dispersal and large scale analyses of genetic structure and demographic history highlight the importance of isolation by distance and forest cover for the past colonization of central Europe by stone marten. This confirmed the hypothesis that human-landscape changes (deforestation) accelerated stone marten expansion, to which climate warming probably has also been contributing over the last few decades.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12898-017-0156-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Spatial ecology of the stone marten in an Alpine area: combining camera-trapping and genetic surveys

“…As recorded for both pine martens (Balestrieri et al 2016a) and otters (Vergara et al 2014), most individuals were related to each other, suggesting rapid population renewal and that dispersion occurs on relatively short distances. Heterozygosity matched with average values for the pine marten in continental Europe (min-max 0.56-0.7; Kyle et al 2003;Pertoldi et al 2008), while was slightly higher than that reported for the stone marten (Iberian Peninsula: Ho = 0.49, Vergara et al 2015; Eastern France: Ho = 0.55, Larroque et al 2016; Poland: Ho = 0.52, Wereszczuk et al 2017).…”

The NATURA 2000 database as a tool in the analysis of habitat selection at large scales: factors affecting the occurrence of pine and stone martens in Southern Europe

“…However, the stone marten has regional intraspecific differences in habitat choice, being less associated with human settlements in Southern than in Central Europe (Sacchi and Meriggi 1995). The pine marten density may decline, but the stone marten may accelerate expiation due to habitat loss, mainly deforestation (Caryl et al 2012, Wereszczuk et al 2017). Thus, both species' current distribution may have been shaped by habitat preferences and anthropogenic factors in different ways (Proulx et al 2004).…”

Multispecies reservoir of Spirometra erinaceieuropaei (Cestoda: Diphyllobothridae) in carnivore communities in north-eastern Poland

“…The stone martens’ diet does not consist of amphibians and reptiles; they mainly prey on small mammals and birds [ 68 ], which can be a potential source of infection. In NE Europe, stone martens usually occur in urban and rural areas and avoid large, continuous forest complexes [ 69 ], which limit their potential to come into contact with possible wild hosts of S. erinaceieuropaei . So far, stone martens have been considered a host for Spirometra sp.…”