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Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2022

Genetic signature of immigrants and their effect on genetic diversity in the recently established Scandinavian wolf population

Akesson, Mikael; Flagstad, Oystein; Aspi, Jouni; Kojola, Ilpo; Liberg, Olof; Wabakken, Petter; Sand, Hakan

Abstract

Transboundary connectivity is a key component when conserving and managing animal species that require large areas to maintain viable population sizes. Wolves Canis lupus recolonized the Scandinavian Peninsula in the early 1980s. The population is geographically isolated and relies on immigration to not lose genetic diversity and to maintain long term viability. In this study we address (1) to what extent the genetic diversity among Scandinavian wolves has recovered during 30 years since its foundation in relation to the source populations in Finland and Russia, (2) if immigration has occurred from both Finland and Russia, two countries with very different wolf management and legislative obligations to ensure long term viability of wolves, and (3) if immigrants can be assumed to be unrelated. Using 26 microsatellite loci we found that although the genetic diversity increased among Scandinavian wolves (n = 143), it has not reached the same levels found in Finland (n = 25) or in Russia (n = 19). Low genetic differentiation between Finnish and Russian wolves, complicated our ability to determine the origin of immigrant wolves (n = 20) with respect to nationality. Nevertheless, based on differences in allelic richness and private allelic richness between the two countries, results supported the occurrence of immigration from both countries. A priori assumptions that immigrants are unrelated is non-advisable, since 5.8% of the pair-wise analyzed immigrants were closely related. To maintain long term viability of wolves in Northern Europe, this study highlights the potential and need for management actions that facilitate transboundary dispersal.

Keywords

Immigration; Inbreeding; Relatedness; Transboundary connectivity; Canis lupus

Published in

Conservation Genetics
2022, volume: 23, number: 2, pages: 359-373
Publisher: SPRINGER

Authors' information

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Ecology
Flagstad, Oystein
Norwegian Institute Nature Research
Aspi, Jouni
University of Oulu
Kojola, Ilpo
Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Ecology
Wabakken, Petter
Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Ecology

UKÄ Subject classification

Genetics
Ecology

Publication Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-021-01423-5

URI (permanent link to this page)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/115151