Current Status, Distribution, And Conservation Of Brown Bear (Ursidae) And Wild Canids (Gray Wolf, Golden Jackal, And Red Fox; Canidae) In Turkey

Turkey has viable populations of many carnivore species of the Western Palearctic. Among those, ursids and canids are represented by brown bear (Ursus arctos) and 3 canid species, gray wolf (Canis lupus), golden jackal (Canis aureus), and red fox (Vulpes vulpes), respectively. Those species occur in major ecosystems of Turkey and experience a wide range of threats, and they are at the center of human-wildlife conflicts. However, due to a limited number of studies about their ecology and taxonomy, their current distributions, population sizes, and statuses are vague. In this study, we document the 4 species' known data in terms of distribution range, population biology, phylogeography, threats and conflicts with people, and National Red List status in Turkey by reviewing the recent literature and national news about carnivores, data collection in field surveys, and interviews with local people, personnel of the Ministry of Forestry, and hunters in more than 50 provinces. Additionally, we also provide information about rabies cases in consideration with carnivore conservation. We finally recommend further studies to fill information gaps for wildlife conservation and management based on scientific evidence.WoSScopu

Exceptional maternal lineage diversity in brown bears (Ursus arctos) from Turkey

The genetic diversity and phylogeography of maternal lineages in Ursus arctos Linnaeus, 1758 (the brown bear) have been studied extensively over the last two decades; however, sampling has largely been limited to the northern Holarctic, and was possibly biased towards lineages that recolonized the vast expanses of the north as the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) ended. Here we report the genetic diversity and phylogeography of U.arctos from Turkey based on 35 non-invasive samples, including five from captive individuals. Bayesian phylogenetic analyses based on a 269-bp fragment of the mitochondrial DNA control region revealed 14 novel haplotypes belonging to three major lineages. The most widespread lineage was found to be the Eastern clade3a, whereas geographically more restricted Western and Middle Eastern lineages were reported for the first time in Turkey. A specimen from the Taurus mountain range carried a haplotype closely related to the presumably extinct bears in Lebanon. Moreover, we identify a unique new lineage that appears to have split early within the Middle Eastern clade. Despite limited sampling, our study reveals a high level of mitochondrial diversity in Turkish U.arctos, shows that the ranges of both European and Middle Eastern clades extend into Turkey, and identifies a new divergent lineage of possibly wider historical occurrence. Obtaining these results with 35 samples also demonstrates the value of proper sampling from regions that have not been significantly affected by the LGM.(c) 2015 The Linnean Society of Londo

Mitogenome Phylogeny Including Data from Additional Subspecies Provides New Insights into the Historical Biogeography of the Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx

Previous molecular studies of the wide-ranging Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx focused mainly on its northern Palearctic populations, with the consequence that the reconstruction of this species' evolutionary history did not include genetic variation present in its southern Palearctic distribution. We sampled a previously not considered Asian subspecies (L. l. dinniki), added published data from another Asian subspecies (L. l. isabellinus), and reassessed the Eurasian lynx mtDNA phylogeny along with previously published data from northern Palearctic populations. Our mitogenome-based analyses revealed the existence of three major clades (A: Central Asia, B: SE Europe/SW Asia, C: Europe and Northern Asia) and at least five lineages, with diversification in Lynx lynx commencing at least 28kyr earlier than hitherto estimated. The subspecies L. l. isabellinus harbors the most basal matriline, consistent with the origin of Lynx lynx in this subspecies' current range. L. l. dinniki harbors the second most basal matriline, which is related to, and may be the source of, the mtDNA diversity of the critically endangered Balkan lynx L. l. balcanicus. Our results suggest that the Anatolian peninsula was a glacial refugium for Eurasian lynx, with previously unconsidered implications for the colonization of Europe by this species.RSGF [11447-1]; DAAD grant; Leibniz-IZW research grant; TUB.ITAK MAM-NCNP project [109G016]Accommodation for DM in Nallihan was partially provided by Nallihan Turizm Gonulluleri Dernegi and per diems by the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks (NCNP), Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Sample collection in Ankara was supported by the RSGF 11447-1 project. DM was also supported by a DAAD grant and a Leibniz-IZW research grant. Support for field work in Antalya was provided by the TUB.ITAK MAM-NCNP project 109G016 for Conservation and Management of Large Mammals in Turkey.WOS:0006890798000012-s2.0-85112472155PubMed: 3444039