Genetic differentiation and asymmetric gene flow among Carpathian brown bear (Ursus arctos) populations-Implications for conservation of transboundary populations.

ABSTRACT: The abundance and distribution of large carnivores in Europe have been historically reduced. Their recovery requires multilevel coordination, especially regarding transboundary populations. Here, we apply nuclear and mitochondrial genetic markers to test for admixture level and its impact on population genetic structure of contemporary brown bears (Ursus arctos) from the Eastern, Southern, and Western Carpathians. Carpathian Mountains (Europe). Nearly 400 noninvasive brown bear DNA samples from the Western (Poland) and Eastern Carpathians (Bieszczady Mountains in Poland, Slovakia, Ukraine) were collected. Together with DNA isolates from Slovakia and Romania, they were analyzed using the set of eight microsatellite loci and two mtDNA regions (control region and cytochrome b).

SUBMITTER: Matosiuk M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6374679 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature