Non-invasively determined multi-site variation in pine marten Martes martes density, a recovering carnivore in Europe

O’Mahony, Declan T.; Powell, Ciara; Power, John H.; Hanniffy, Ruth; Marnell, Ferdia; Turner, Peter; O’Reilly, Catherine

doi:10.1007/s10344-017-1108-3

Cited by 21 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…To identify individual pine martens, DNA was extracted and real-time quantitative PCR assays for species and sex determination were carried out as described in [ 17 ]. Microsatellite amplification and allele scoring across six markers (Mel1, Ma2, Mvi1341, Gg7, Mar21 and Mar53) were performed as described in [ 18 ]. In samples where greater than two alleles per locus were observed ( n = 4 samples), we assumed that this was a result of DNA amplification from more than one individual, and therefore samples were excluded from further analysis.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The enemy of my enemy is my friend: native pine marten recovery reverses the decline of the red squirrel by suppressing grey squirrel populations

et al. 2018

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Shared enemies may instigate or modify competitive interactions between species. The dis-equilibrium caused by non-native species introductions has revealed that the outcome of such indirect interactions can often be dramatic. However, studies of enemy-mediated competition mostly consider the impact of a single enemy, despite species being embedded in complex networks of interactions. Here, we demonstrate that native red and invasive grey squirrels in Britain, two terrestrial species linked by resource and disease-mediated apparent competition, are also now linked by a second enemy-mediated relationship involving a shared native predator recovering from historical persecution, the European pine marten. Through combining spatial capture–recapture techniques to estimate pine marten density, and squirrel site-occupancy data, we find that the impact of exposure to predation is highly asymmetrical, with non-native grey squirrel occupancy strongly negatively affected by exposure to pine martens. By contrast, exposure to pine marten predation has an indirect positive effect on red squirrel populations. Pine marten predation thus reverses the well-documented outcome of resource and apparent competition between red and grey squirrels.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sample matching, calculation of allele frequencies and probabilities of identity were carried out using GENECAP [ 19 ]. For full details of microsatellite loci and primers used, see [ 18 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The enemy of my enemy is my friend: native pine marten recovery reverses the decline of the red squirrel by suppressing grey squirrel populations

et al. 2018

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“…The European pine marten Martes martes is a small carnivore currently recovering in Britain and Ireland following severe historical decline driven by habitat loss and persecution (Langley and Yalden 1977, O'Mahony et al 2017, Sainsbury et al 2019. Recent research demonstrates the species may be limited by human disturbance to the more remote, forested parts of Europe (Balestrieri et al 2019, Twining et al 2020.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Such forestry practice is typical of Britain and Ireland where over three quarters of the total forest cover is this type of plantation (Forestry Commission 2017). Despite the suspected limiting nature of these plantations, they have previously been considered suitable habitat for the pine marten with all forest cover considered equal in regional populations assessments (O'Mahony et al 2017). Although the potential importance of marginal habitats such as scrub has been highlighted (Caryl et al 2012), this has been ignored by forest centred approaches.…”

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confidence: 99%

All forests are not equal: population demographics and denning behaviour of a recovering small carnivore in human modified landscapes

et al. 2020

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“…Trizio et al 2005). Despite a move towards non-invasive genetic studies in other species, particularly carnivores (Mullins et al 2010;O'Neill et al 2013;O'Mahony et al 2017), there have been few such studies conducted with rodents. This is most likely due to their small body size and elusive behaviour, and the difficulties of obtaining faeces from arboreal rodents (Reiners et al 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Retracing the history and planning the future of the red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) in Ireland using non-invasive genetics

et al. 2018

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The Eurasian red squirrel's (Sciurus vulgaris) history in Ireland is largely unknown, but the original population is thought to have been driven to extinction by humans in the 17 th Century, and multiple records exist for its subsequent reintroduction in the 19 th Century. However, it is currently unknown how these reintroductions affect the red squirrel population today, or may do so in the future. In this study, we report on the development of a DNA toolkit for the non-invasive genetic study of the red squirrel. Non-invasively collected red squirrel samples were combined with other samples collected throughout Ireland and previously published mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) data from Ireland, Great Britain and continental Europe to give an insight into population genetics and historical introductions of the red squirrel in Ireland. Our findings demonstrate that the Irish red squirrel population is on a national scale quite genetically diverse, but at a local level contains relatively low levels of genetic diversity and evidence of genetic structure. This is likely an artefact of the introduction of a small number of genetically similar animals to specific sites. A lack of continuous woodland cover in Ireland has prevented further mixing with animals of different origins that may have been introduced even to neighbouring sites. Consequently, some of these genetically isolated populations are or may in the future be at risk of extinction. The Irish red squirrel population contains mtDNA haplotypes of both a British and Continental European origin, the former of which are now extinct or simply not recorded in contemporary Great Britain. The Irish population is therefore important in terms of red squirrel conservation not only in Ireland, but also for Great Britain, and should be appropriately managed.

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Non-invasively determined multi-site variation in pine marten Martes martes density, a recovering carnivore in Europe

Cited by 21 publications

References 60 publications

The enemy of my enemy is my friend: native pine marten recovery reverses the decline of the red squirrel by suppressing grey squirrel populations

The enemy of my enemy is my friend: native pine marten recovery reverses the decline of the red squirrel by suppressing grey squirrel populations

All forests are not equal: population demographics and denning behaviour of a recovering small carnivore in human modified landscapes

Retracing the history and planning the future of the red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) in Ireland using non-invasive genetics

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