Genetic Connectivity in a Cooperatively Breeding Carnivore Between Two Protected Areas
ABSTRACT Wildlife populations are increasingly threatened by human activities. Most studies, however, are often short in duration or do not encompass the large spatial extent necessary to measure the potential effects of human activities on population vital rates. Furthermore, the life history featu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71420 |
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| author | Ariana L. Cerreta Jennifer R. Adams Bridget L. Borg Mathew S. Sorum Lisette P. Waits David E. Ausband |
| author_facet | Ariana L. Cerreta Jennifer R. Adams Bridget L. Borg Mathew S. Sorum Lisette P. Waits David E. Ausband |
| author_sort | Ariana L. Cerreta |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Wildlife populations are increasingly threatened by human activities. Most studies, however, are often short in duration or do not encompass the large spatial extent necessary to measure the potential effects of human activities on population vital rates. Furthermore, the life history features of species with high fecundity and excellent dispersal capabilities can act as buffers against the potential negative effects of human activities on their populations. We used a 30‐year dataset of genetic samples from gray wolves (Canis lupus) in Alaska, USA, to examine genetic connectivity and diversity between National Park units separated by a region with recurrent human‐caused mortality. We found that the two protected populations were genetically similar and that dispersal events occurred between them even though they are > 450 km apart. We posit that intact ecosystems and a history of continuous distribution of wolves surrounding the affected regions likely maintained the genetic connectivity of wolves in the two protected areas. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e444b310eb9d465297168191b7fa7a8b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj-art-e444b310eb9d465297168191b7fa7a8b2025-08-20T03:25:20ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582025-05-01155n/an/a10.1002/ece3.71420Genetic Connectivity in a Cooperatively Breeding Carnivore Between Two Protected AreasAriana L. Cerreta0Jennifer R. Adams1Bridget L. Borg2Mathew S. Sorum3Lisette P. Waits4David E. Ausband5Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences University of Idaho Moscow Idaho USALaboratory for Ecological, Evolutionary and Conservation Genetics, Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences University of Idaho Moscow Idaho USANational Park Service Denali National Park and Preserve Denali Park Alaska USANational Park Service Yukon‐Charley Rivers National Preserve Fairbanks Alaska USADepartment of Fish and Wildlife Sciences University of Idaho Moscow Idaho USAU.S. Geological Survey, Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit University of Idaho Moscow Idaho USAABSTRACT Wildlife populations are increasingly threatened by human activities. Most studies, however, are often short in duration or do not encompass the large spatial extent necessary to measure the potential effects of human activities on population vital rates. Furthermore, the life history features of species with high fecundity and excellent dispersal capabilities can act as buffers against the potential negative effects of human activities on their populations. We used a 30‐year dataset of genetic samples from gray wolves (Canis lupus) in Alaska, USA, to examine genetic connectivity and diversity between National Park units separated by a region with recurrent human‐caused mortality. We found that the two protected populations were genetically similar and that dispersal events occurred between them even though they are > 450 km apart. We posit that intact ecosystems and a history of continuous distribution of wolves surrounding the affected regions likely maintained the genetic connectivity of wolves in the two protected areas.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71420AlaskaCanis lupusdispersalmicrosatellitespedigree reconstructionwolf |
| spellingShingle | Ariana L. Cerreta Jennifer R. Adams Bridget L. Borg Mathew S. Sorum Lisette P. Waits David E. Ausband Genetic Connectivity in a Cooperatively Breeding Carnivore Between Two Protected Areas Ecology and Evolution Alaska Canis lupus dispersal microsatellites pedigree reconstruction wolf |
| title | Genetic Connectivity in a Cooperatively Breeding Carnivore Between Two Protected Areas |
| title_full | Genetic Connectivity in a Cooperatively Breeding Carnivore Between Two Protected Areas |
| title_fullStr | Genetic Connectivity in a Cooperatively Breeding Carnivore Between Two Protected Areas |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genetic Connectivity in a Cooperatively Breeding Carnivore Between Two Protected Areas |
| title_short | Genetic Connectivity in a Cooperatively Breeding Carnivore Between Two Protected Areas |
| title_sort | genetic connectivity in a cooperatively breeding carnivore between two protected areas |
| topic | Alaska Canis lupus dispersal microsatellites pedigree reconstruction wolf |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71420 |
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