Genetic monitoring of Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) in Switzerland and implications for the management of the species

Minnig, Shawn; Angst, Christof; Jacob, Gwenaël

doi:10.15298/rusjtheriol.15.1.04

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…The number of different alleles ranged from 3 (Cca18) to 7 (CF33) at each locus, with similar results for the number of effective alleles (Table 2). The mean genetic diversity in the Romanian beaver population (H e = 0.601) was higher than those previously reported in Europe (Frosch et al 2010;Senn et al 2014;Minnig et al 2016) (Table 1).…”

Section: Genetic Diversitycontrasting

confidence: 58%

“…Purification Kit (Promega, USA) (Cotovelea et al 2015) and optimized according to Fedorca et al (2018). Nine fluorescently labelled microsatellite markers (Crawford et al 2009;Pelz-Serrano et al 2009;Frosch et al 2010;Minnig et al 2016) were used and divided into two multiplexes: Multiplex I (Cca13, CF33, CF07, CF06) and Multiplex II (Cca18, CF31, CF05, CF44, CF19). The PCR reactions were performed in a 15 μl total volume, containing 7.5 μl of Qiagen Multiplex PCR mix, 50-100 ng/μl DNA and fluorescently labelled primers (0.2 and 0.4 μM forward and reverse primers, respectively).…”

Section: Dna Extraction Amplification and Sizingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The refugial populations (such as Bavaria) were strongly bottlenecked and have registered through genetic drift, a loss of genetic diversity (Halley et al 2020). As the Switzerland example confirmed, the reintroduced Eurasian beaver populations are able to firmly establish, despite a shallow level of genetic diversity, and are rapidly expanding, and inbreeding depression is low (Minnig et al 2016). Bayesian clustering methods are essential for the assignment of populations to genetically distinct groups for wildlife management and conservation, and these methods contribute to the identification of small-scale substructures (Pearse and Crandall 2004;Crawford et al 2009;Hobbs et al 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Genetic structure of Eurasian beaver in Romania: insights after two decades from the reintroduction

et al. 2021

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Once exploited for fur, meat, and extracting the yellowish exudate called castoreum, the Eurasian beaver disappeared from Romania during the eighteenth century. After, the reintroductions carried out two decades ago are currently thriving in the Danube River basin. Using nine nSSR markers, we analysed samples from 98 individuals, and we found no genetic substructure, suggesting high dispersal and gene flow capabilities. The stepwise mutation model (SMM) indicated the existence of a recent genetic bottleneck, though the Eurasian beaver retains high levels of genetic diversity and population growth facilitated variation in nSSR loci. A fine-scale spatial correlation in females was detected, contrasting with males’ dispersal on longer distances. While the movement and establishment of individuals’ new territories were made under natural predation pressure, the mix following natural expansion improved the fitness and could contribute to a higher genetic diversity than the source population. With any reintroduction, a focus on capturing individuals from various geographic origins, as well as securing many and suitable founding individuals (adults, subadults, and juveniles) with mixed origins, could secure the post-genetic bottleneck recovery and higher genetic diversity. Beyond this conservation success, future management strategies should consider building a National Action Plan (NAP) for the species, including a permanent genetic monitoring programme for Eurasian beaver.

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Section: Genetic Diversitycontrasting

confidence: 58%

Section: Dna Extraction Amplification and Sizingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Genetic structure of Eurasian beaver in Romania: insights after two decades from the reintroduction

et al. 2021

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“…Minnig et al (2016) provide a detailed account of reintroduction history, 141 individuals at 30 sites in 1956–77. Population was estimated at 2800 in 2015 (BAFU 2016).…”

Section: History and Status Of Beaver Populations By Countrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Population and distribution of beaversCastor fiberandCastor canadensisin Eurasia

Saveljev²,

2020

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A century ago, overhunting had reduced Eurasian beaver Castor fiber populations to c. 1200 animals in scattered refugia from France to Mongolia. Reintroductions and natural spread have since restored the species to large areas of its original range. Population has more than tripled since the first modern estimate in 1998; the minimum estimate is now c. 1.5 million. Range expansion 2000–2020 has been rapid, with large extensions in western and south‐central Europe, southern Russia, and west and central Siberia. Beavers are now re‐established in all countries of their former European range except for Portugal, Italy, and the southern Balkans; they occur broadly across Siberia to Mongolia, with scattered populations father east. About half of the world population lives in Russia. Populations appear to be mature in much of European Russia, Belarus, the Baltic States, and Poland. There is a significant population of North American beaver Castor canadensis in Finland and north‐west Russia. Most other 20th‐Century introductions of this species have become extinct or been removed. Recent DNA studies have improved understanding of Castor fiber population prehistory and history. Two clades, east and west, are extant; a third ‘Danube’ clade is extinct. Refugial populations were strongly bottlenecked, with loss of genetic diversity through genetic drift. Future range extension, and large increases in populations and in impacts on freshwater systems, can be expected. Beavers are now recolonising densely populated, intensely modified, low‐relief regions, such as England, the Netherlands, Belgium, and north‐west Germany. They will become much more common and widespread there in coming decades. As beavers are ecosystem engineers with profound effects on riparian habitats, attention to integrating beaver management into these landscapes using experience gained in other areas – before the rapid increase in population densities and impacts occurs – is recommended.

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Recolonizing lost habitat—how European beavers (Castor fiber) return to south-western Germany

et al. 2018

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Genetic monitoring of Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) in Switzerland and implications for the management of the species

Cited by 4 publications

References 21 publications

Genetic structure of Eurasian beaver in Romania: insights after two decades from the reintroduction

Genetic structure of Eurasian beaver in Romania: insights after two decades from the reintroduction

Population and distribution of beaversCastor fiberandCastor canadensisin Eurasia

Recolonizing lost habitat—how European beavers (Castor fiber) return to south-western Germany

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