Phylogeography and population genetic structure of the European roe deer in Switzerland following recent recolonization

Abstract

In the early 1800s, the European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) was probably extirpated from Switzerland, due to overhunting and deforestation. After a federal law was enacted in 1875 to protect lactating females and young, and limiting the hunting season, the roe deer successfully recovered and recolonized Switzerland. In this study, we use mitochondrial DNA and nuclear DNA markers to investigate the recolonization and assess contemporary genetic structure in relation to broad topographic features, in order to understand underlying ecological processes, inform future roe deer management strategies, and explore the opportunity for development of forensic traceability tools. The results concerning the recolonization origin support natural, multidirectional immigration from neighboring countries. We further demonstrate that there is evidence of weak genetic differentiation within Switzerland among topographic regions. Finally, we conclude that the genetic data support the recognition of a single roe deer management unit within Switzerland, within which there is a potential for broad‐scale geographic origin assignment using nuclear markers to support law enforcement.

Contrasting genomic consequences of anthropogenic reintroduction and natural recolonization in high‐arctic wild reindeer

“…Consequently, a key goal in the management of newly reestablished or fragmented populations is to maximize the genetic diversity and minimize drift and inbreeding (Frankham et al, 2017 ). Several studies have shown that genetic diversity in reintroduced and naturally recolonized populations is often higher in those that receive gene flow from other populations (Biebach & Keller, 2012 ; Latch & Rhodes, 2005 ; Malaney et al, 2018 ), originate from multiple source populations (Huff et al, 2010 ; Sasmal et al, 2013 ; Vasiljevic et al, 2022 ; Williams et al, 2000 ; Williams & Scribner, 2010 ) and in reintroductions that use multiple translocations (Cullingham & Moehrenschlager, 2013 ; Drauch & Rhodes, 2007 ). Without such mitigating factors, erosion of genetic diversity and accumulation of inbreeding can occur due to isolation and/or slow population growth (Hundertmark & van Daele, 2010 ; Williams et al, 2002 ), and may have detrimental population‐level consequences for fitness‐related traits (Wisely et al, 2008 ) and population growth rates (Bozzuto et al, 2019 ).…”