Dataset Information

Phylogeography and population genetic structure of the European roe deer in Switzerland following recent recolonization.

ABSTRACT: In the early 1800s, the European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) was probably extirpated from Switzerland, due to overhunting and deforestation. After a federal law was enacted in 1875 to protect lactating females and young, and limiting the hunting season, the roe deer successfully recovered and recolonized Switzerland. In this study, we use mitochondrial DNA and nuclear DNA markers to investigate the recolonization and assess contemporary genetic structure in relation to broad topographic features, in order to understand underlying ecological processes, inform future roe deer management strategies, and explore the opportunity for development of forensic traceability tools. The results concerning the recolonization origin support natural, multidirectional immigration from neighboring countries. We further demonstrate that there is evidence of weak genetic differentiation within Switzerland among topographic regions. Finally, we conclude that the genetic data support the recognition of a single roe deer management unit within Switzerland, within which there is a potential for broad-scale geographic origin assignment using nuclear markers to support law enforcement.

SUBMITTER: Vasiljevic N

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8858214 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Phylogeography and population genetic structure of the European roe deer in Switzerland following recent recolonization.

Vasiljevic Nina N Morf Nadja V NV Senn Josef J Pérez-Espona Sílvia S Mattucci Federica F Mucci Nadia N Moore-Jones Gaia G Pisano Simone Roberto Rolando SRR Kratzer Adelgunde A Ogden Rob R

Ecology and evolution 20220219 2

In the early 1800s, the European roe deer (<i>Capreolus capreolus</i>) was probably extirpated from Switzerland, due to overhunting and deforestation. After a federal law was enacted in 1875 to protect lactating females and young, and limiting the hunting season, the roe deer successfully recovered and recolonized Switzerland. In this study, we use mitochondrial DNA and nuclear DNA markers to investigate the recolonization and assess contemporary genetic structure in relation to broad topographi ...[more]

PMID: 35222977

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Project description:Abstract Selective browsing by deer on young trees may impede the management goal of increasing forest resilience against climate change and other disturbances. Deer population density is often considered the main driver of browsing impacts on young trees, however, a range of other variables such as food availability also affect this relationship. In this study, we use browsing survey data from 135 research plots to explore patterns of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) browsing pressure on woody plants in mountainous forests in central Europe. We fitted species‐specific generalised linear mixed models for eight woody taxa, assessing the potential effects of understory characteristics, roe deer abundance and lying deadwood on browsing intensity. Our study reveals conspecific and associational effects for woody taxa that are intermediately browsed by roe deer. Selective browsing pressure was mediated by preferences of plants, in that, browsing of strongly preferred woody taxa as for example mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia) and of least preferred woody taxa, for example Norway spruce (Picea abies) was not affected by the surrounding understory vegetation, while browsing pressure on intermediately browsed species like for example silver fir (Abies alba) was affected by understory characteristics. Contrary to our expectations, roe deer abundance was only positively associated with browsing pressure on silver fir and bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), while all other plants were unaffected by deer abundance. Finally, we did not find an influence of lying deadwood volume on the browsing pressure on any woody‐plant species. Overall, our results indicate that patterns in browsing preference and intensity are species‐specific processes and are partly affected by the surrounding understory vegetation. Current management strategies that aim to reduce browsing pressure through culling may be inefficient as they do not address other drivers of browsing pressure. However, managers also need to consider the characteristics of the local understory vegetation in addition to deer abundance and design species‐specific plans to reduce browsing on woody plant taxa. We assessed the associational effects of characteristics of the herb layer cover on the browsing pressure of roe deer on woody plants. We found associational effects for woody taxa that were of intermediate preference to deer, while roe deer abundance only affected browsing pressure on few woody plants. Overall, associational effects of understory characteristics appear to be highly species‐specific and context‐dependent.

Dataset Information

Phylogeography and population genetic structure of the European roe deer in Switzerland following recent recolonization.

Publications

Phylogeography and population genetic structure of the European roe deer in Switzerland following recent recolonization.

Similar Datasets

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