Spatio-Temporal Changes in Effective Population Size in an Expanding Metapopulation of Eurasian Otters.

ABSTRACT: Conservation efforts are leading to demographic growth and spatial expansion of some previously endangered species. However, past population bottlenecks or population size fluctuations can have lasting effects on effective population size (N _e), even when census size (N _c) appears large or recovered. The UK metapopulation of Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) has a well-documented history of population recovery over recent decades, with indicators of presence (faeces and footprints) increasing in distribution and number over successive national surveys. To determine whether this increase in N _c is reflected in increased N _e, we analysed a large-scale microsatellite dataset (21 years: 1993-2014; 407 individuals) for s

SUBMITTER: Thomas NE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11742082 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature