The genetic characterization of an isolated remnant population of an endangered rodent (Cricetus cricetus L.) using comparative data: implications for conservation

Abstract

reflects its extreme isolation. This factor, coupled with inbreeding and genetic drift, are major threats to JW. A neighbor-joining tree based on mtDNA haplotypes shows that JW clusters among samples representing the Central subgroup that is known from central Germany but that has not yet been identified in Poland. Findings presented here improve our understanding of the spread and diversification of the common hamster. We offer the following hypotheses to explain the observed pattern of mtDNA haplotype distribution: JW could be a byproduct of postglacial migrations or back-migrations from eastern refugia to the western part of Europe, or/and be a result of population and habitat fragmentation. We recommend translocation of individuals as an effective management strategy, both at the level of Central phylogeographic group and at the species level, to overcome the negative consequences of inbreeding and geographical isolation of the JW population.

Phylogeographic structure of the Common hamster (Cricetus cricetus L.): Late Pleistocene connections between Caucasus and Western European populations

“…As well, nobody found hamsters of the North phylogroup in Ukraine, and central Russia. The recent finding of the North-type haplotype in Poland [ 23 ] represents an isolated population in the southwestern region of Poland, 300 km from eastern Germany, which is populated by North phylogroup hamsters. The authors suggested that this occurred because of recent migration or fragmentation of the North phylogroup's range, which earlier included southwestern districts of Poland, but continued to be allopatric with the E1 range located distinctly eastwards.…”

“…The hamsters of the phylogroup North inhabit Western Europe and represent two lineages, the Western (Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and southern Germany) and Central (northern regions of Germany). A recent study [ 23 ] also detected the presence of a haplotype of the Central phylogroup in southwestern Poland. The time of isolation of these groups was estimated as 10–15 kya, at the end of the Last Glaciation Maximum.…”

Genetic Variability and Structure of the Caucasian Shrew Sorex satunini in the North Caucasus according to the Variability of Microsatellite Loci

“…The analysis of the polymorphism of microsatellite loci had worked well for characterizing the metapopulation structure of individual taxa and their genetic subdivision. This is the most clearly shown by the example with anadromous fish species [4,5], and it is also successfully used in study of mammals [6,7].…”

Are All Conservation Measures for Endangered Species Legitimate? Lines of Thinking With the European Hamster

“…For instance, it has been demonstrated that the habitat fragmentation of a small rodent-like the European hamsters can lead to low diversity in the population and threaten the species locally (Reiners et al, 2011). If genetic diversity decreases too much, it can be necessary to introduce animals from other phylogeographic groups to improve the survival chances of the population (Melosik et al, 2017). But to be successful, there are other several prerequisites for population reinforcements to fulfill.…”