Landscape determinants of genetic differentiation, inbreeding and genetic drift in the hazel dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius)

Bani, Luciano; Orioli, Valerio; Pisa, Giulia Di; Dondina, Olivia; Fagiani, Stefano; Fabbri, Elena; Randi, Ettore; Mortelliti, Alessio; Sozio, Giulia

doi:10.1007/s10592-017-0999-6

Cited by 16 publications

(10 citation statements)

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“…Landscape genetics studies can, in turn, inform more targeted management approaches to promote species conservation than those that simply use existing information about habitat preferences (Segelbacher et al 2010). For example, recent studies on a range of taxa, including the hazel dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius; Bani et al 2017), the alpine newt (Ichthyosaura alpestris; Luqman 2018), and wild tigers (Panthera Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (https ://doi.org/10.1007/s1059 2-019-01172 -6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. tigris; Thatte et al 2018) have leveraged landscape genetic results to prioritize conservation goals for these species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative landscape genetics of two endemic torrent salamander species, Rhyacotriton kezeri and R. variegatus: implications for forest management and species conservation

et al. 2019

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Comparative landscape genetic studies provide insights into whether relationships between landscape features and patterns of spatial genetic structure differ among populations, species, habitat types, and regions. For species with fragmented distributions, especially when management practices contribute to fragmentation, tests of the factors structuring population connectivity are particularly important for understanding continued risks. We determined levels of genetic diversity and tested the relationships of landscape-scale vegetative, geographic, and climate variables with genetic distance in two congeneric, endemic salamander species with status of concern. Using microsatellite data for 326 Rhyacotriton kezeri and 557 Rhyacotriton variegatus individuals collected from 17 to 29 localities, respectively, we implemented a model of landscape resistance based on circuit theory. The northernmost portions of each species' range is more fragmented than areas to the south, leading to the prediction that these areas would have relatively lower genetic diversity in response. Due to reliance of both species upon cold-water habitats, we predicted that landscape variables maintaining cool, moist microhabitats would be correlated with gene flow. Genetic structure was high overall and trended toward increasing with the proportion of the forested landscape. Based on maximum likelihood population effects models across genetic clusters and species, land cover and roads were the best predictors of genetic distance, even though the degree of fragmentation differed across each species' geographic range. Our results suggest that forest cover is essential for dispersal in these salamanders, indicating negative effects of fragmentation resulting from timber harvest and other forest disturbances.Publisher's Note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative landscape genetics of two endemic torrent salamander species, Rhyacotriton kezeri and R. variegatus: implications for forest management and species conservation

et al. 2019

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“…It has been reported that R. ornativentris hatchability tends to be low in isolated urban populations (Okamiya & Kusano, ; Shiga, ). A similar phenomenon of fitness reduction due to the erosion of gene flow and genetic diversity in fragmented habitats has been corroborated for several taxa, ranging from invertebrates to mammals (i.e., Bani et al, ; Takahashi et al, ; Unfried et al, ). While results from a single species cannot be generalized for other taxonomic groups, R. ornativentris data are illustrative for other pond‐breeding amphibians such as bufonid toads and small salamanders that inhabit secondary forests surrounded by urbanized areas, because they share many life history traits (Kusano et al, ; Maeda & Matsui, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 59%

“…Indeed, the HSu habitat suitability map revealed that a highly urbanized foothill were surrounded by areas with very low suitability and separated by barriers (Figure 2a,b). Thus, anthropic surfaces confine fragmented habitats, hindering dispersal or increasing mortality (Bani et al, 2018;Fahrig, Pedlar, Pope, Taylor, & Wegner, 1995;Shirk, Wallin, Cushman, Rice, & Warheit, 2010). These effects are synergistic and emphasize between-population genetic differences, potentially even reducing genetic diversity (Keller & Largiader, 2003).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The effects of landscape features on potential dispersal movements and thus on genetic distances, are usually quantified as resistance surfaces. Resistance surfaces are maps that represent the relative resistance to movement through a landscape for organisms (Bani et al, 2018;Spear, Balkenhol, Fortin, McRae, & Scribner, 2010;Unfried, Hauser, & Marzluff, 2013), and allow us to calculate the resistance distance or connectivity affecting dispersal between populations. The circuit theory analysis recently developed by McRae (2006) and McRae, Dickson, Keitt, and Viral (2008) compare all of the potential dispersal pathways among populations using algorithms from electrical circuit theory, and calculate the resistance distance or connectivity based on resistance surfaces.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of landscape features on gene flow among urban frog populations

Okamiya

Kusano

2019

Ecological Research

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The anthropogenic fragmentation of habitats has altered the distribution and size of populations of many species worldwide. To predict fate of populations and establish management practices that ensure their viability, we need to understand the demographic and genetic consequences of fragmentation. In this study, we analyzed whether the spatial configuration of remnant habitat patches within a fragmented landscape has shaped the patterns of genetic diversity and differences in local populations of the Montane brown frog (Rana ornativentris) in Tokyo, Japan. The species inhabits secondary forests and is particularly affected by fragmentation due to its habitat selectivity and low dispersal capability. We determined allele frequencies of six microsatellites to estimate genetic diversity of 33 local populations and pairwise genetic distances among them. Habitat suitability maps were developed based on two models, one with only climatic and topography as predictor variables (HSn), the second incorporating the potential barrier effect of urbanization as an additional variable (HSu). Ecological distances were calculated using the circuit theory applied to the habitat suitability maps. We found that within‐population genetic diversity decreases as the HSu habitat suitability decreases. Moreover, pairwise population genetic distance showed the highest correlations with resistance (i.e., ecological) distances when the HSu map was used. Our results confirmed the expectation that urbanized lands are barriers to gene flow, and that habitat fragmentation restricts inter‐population dispersal, thus reducing the genetic diversity of local populations. Our results also demonstrate that landscape genetics is a useful approach for identifying key factors affecting dispersal.

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“…The increase of connectivity in fragmented landscapes is essential to restore or improve the genetic exchanges between animal populations, generate new genotypes and increase genetic diversity [57,58,59,60]. This is fundamental to ensure population resilience to future Table 2.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Combining ensemble models and connectivity analyses to predict wolf expected dispersal routes through a lowland corridor

et al. 2020

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The Italian wolf (Canis lupus italicus) population has remained isolated South of the Alps for the last few thousand years. After a strong decline, the species has recolonized the Apennines and the Western Alps, while it is currently struggling to colonize the Eastern Alps. Recently, the species was detected in a lowland park connecting the Northern Apennines to the Central Alps. If the park was able to sustain a net wolf dispersal flow, this could significantly boost the connection with the Eastern Alps and the Dinaric-Balkan population. We investigated the suitability of the park as a functional ecological corridor for the wolf through the unhospitable lowland of Northern Italy. We collected wolf occurrence data in two study areas. We modeled species distribution running a separate ensemble model for each study area and then merging the output of the models to obtain an integrated suitability map. We used this map to identify corridors for the wolf adopting a factorial least-cost path and a cumulative resistant kernel approach. The connectivity models showed that only two corridors exist in the lowland areas between the Northern Apennines and the Central Alps. The Western corridor is a blind route, while the eastern corridor passes through the park and has a continuous course. However, the models also revealed a scarce resilience of corridor connectivity in the passageways between the park and the Apennines and the Prealps, which suggests that urgent management actions are necessary to ensure the future functionality of this important corridor.

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Landscape determinants of genetic differentiation, inbreeding and genetic drift in the hazel dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius)

Cited by 16 publications

References 70 publications

Comparative landscape genetics of two endemic torrent salamander species, Rhyacotriton kezeri and R. variegatus: implications for forest management and species conservation

Comparative landscape genetics of two endemic torrent salamander species, Rhyacotriton kezeri and R. variegatus: implications for forest management and species conservation

Effects of landscape features on gene flow among urban frog populations

Combining ensemble models and connectivity analyses to predict wolf expected dispersal routes through a lowland corridor

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