Challenges and science-based implications for modern management and conservation of European ungulate populations

Wildlife management systems face growing challenges to cope with increasingly complex interactions between wildlife populations, the environment and human activities. In this position statement, we address the most important issues characterising current ungulate conservation and management in Europe. We present some key points arising from ecological research that may be critical for a reassessment of ungulate management in the future. Ecosystem . Population sustainability . Science-basedmanagement .Wildlifemanagement .Adaptive managemen

Hirvi Uralin ja Itä-Fennoskandian taigametsissä: maisemanäkökulma

Itä-Fennoskandian ja Uralin hirven alueellista levinneisyyttä tarkastelemme alueen yleistymisen tasolla, joka vastaa suunnilleen elinympäristöjen β-diversiteettitasoa. Meistä tuntuu mielenkiintoiselta verrata tietoja hirven alueellisesta levinneisyydestä näillä kahdella, kaukana toisistaan, mutta joilla on yhteisiä maantieteellisiä piirteitä.Peer reviewe

The wild forest reindeer, Rangifer tarandus fennicus, in the Metsola Biosphere Reserve, Northwest Russia

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Evidence of post-glacial secondary contact and subsequent anthropogenic influence on the genetic composition of Fennoscandian moose (Alces alces)

AimTo determine whether a contemporary population of the moose (Alces alces), a large northern ungulate, retains genetic signatures of post-glacial recolonization and/or the effects of anthropogenic factors. We focused on investigating spatial genetic structure and the distribution of genetic diversity of this species to clarify its still obscure history. LocationEastern Fennoscandia, Northern Europe. MethodsIn total, 574 Finnish and Russian Karelian moose were genotyped at 16 microsatellite loci, and the mitochondrial control region was sequenced from 224 individuals. Spatially explicit Bayesian clustering, multivariate and spatial autocorrelation methods were applied alongside traditional F-statistics to study the effects of landscape on genetic structure. The demographic history of our study populations was explored with coalescent analysis and Bayesian skyline plots. ResultsA major mitochondrial divergence of moose was discovered between northern parts of Finland and the rest of the studied area. Landscape genetic analyses on the microsatellite data identified three genetic clusters connected by clines, with coalescent analysis indicating the division to be of ancient origin. Additionally, recent population bottlenecks were detected using Bayesian skyline plots. Main conclusionsOur results indicate a post-glacial secondary contact between two distinct moose mitochondrial lineages that diverged during the Pleistocene, whereas admixture of three diverged genetic subpopulations was detected using microsatellites. The emergence of these subpopulations was estimated to have occurred after the post-glacial recolonization of Fennoscandia. The observed genetic bottlenecks coincide with recorded historical population declines in the 18th century. We conclude that the contemporary genetic composition of the moose population in eastern Fennoscandia has been affected by both ancient and recent factors.201

Low genetic polymorphism in the re-introduced Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) population in Finland: implications for conservation

Background Reduction of genetic diversity can lead to reduced fitness of species, such as the loss of adaptability to changing environments. The native Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) was hunted to extinction from Finland and many other countries in Europe in the nineteenth century. In Finland, the species was re-introduced in the 1930s with only a few individuals fromNorway. Re-introductions were performed also in other countries of northern Europe and as a result, Eurasian beaver populations have undergone population bottlenecks leading to low levels of genetic diversity. Materials and Methods Here, 200 Eurasian beaver samples from Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, and Russian Karelia were investigated using 12 microsatellite markers to examine the level of genetic diversity and relationship between the populations. Results While Russian and Estonian populations were genetically the closest, the Finnish population was clearly distinct from all others and had the lowest genetic variability among the study populations. This may be deleterious to the population especially ina changing environment. Conclusions Genetic rescue could be the best solution to increase the genetic diversity and improve the future prospects of the population, although more studies are required to resolve the optimal source population

The wild boar Sus scrofa in northern Eurasia: a review of range expansion history, current distribution, factors affecting the northern distributional limit, and management strategies

1. The wild boar Sus scrofa is one of the most widely distributed large mammal species in the world, existing on all continents except Antarctica. In the late 20th Century, its geographical range expanded naturally and through intentional releases. Despite the environmental, social, and economic importance of the wild boar, its current distribution in northern Eurasia remains uncertain, and the factors that limit and promote expansion in northern ecosystems are unknown.2. We aimed to summarise the history of wild boar range expansion and cur-rent distribution in the countries of northern Eurasia. We also assess theacceptedVersio

Diversity and Distribution of Helminths in Wild Ruminants of the Russian Arctic: Reindeer (<i>Rangifer tarandus</i>), Muskoxen (<i>Ovibos moschatus</i>), and Snow Sheep (<i>Ovis nivicola</i>)

The Russian Arctic supports wild sympatric ruminants and their data-deficient helminths. In this study, we: (1) collected fecal samples of wild and semiwild reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus), and snow sheep (Ovis nivicola) across Palearctic North territories: Arkhangelsk Oblast (including Novaya Zemlya archipelago), Karelia and Sakha Republics, Kola, Yamal, Taimyr, and Chukotka Peninsulas, Bering, Svalbard, and Wrangel Islands; (2) conducted a coprological survey (noninvasive life-time method preferable for protected animals) to obtain eggs and larvae of helminths inhabiting digestive, respiratory, nervous, and muscular systems; (3) identified helminths according to their morphology and DNA sequences; (4) estimated parasite load per host; (5) analyzed our findings. Varestrongylus eleguneniensis (in reindeer) was reported for the Palearctic for the first time, while Orthostrongylus sp. was reported both for R. tarandus and for the Palearctic for the first time. Capillarid-type eggs were reported for snow sheep for the first time. The question of the role of wild Arctic ruminants as vectors for rotifers was raised

Mapping out a future for ungulate migrations

Migration of ungulates (hooved mammals) is a fundamental ecological process that promotes abundant herds, whose effects cascade up and down terrestrial food webs. Migratory ungulates provide the prey base that maintains large carnivore and scavenger populations and underpins terrestrial biodiversity (fig. S1). When ungulates move in large aggregations, their hooves, feces, and urine create conditions that facilitate distinct biotic communities. The migrations of ungulates have sustained humans for thousands of years, forming tight cultural links among Indigenous people and local communities. Yet ungulate migrations are disappearing at an alarming rate (1). Efforts by wildlife managers and conservationists are thwarted by a singular challenge: Most ungulate migrations have never been mapped in sufficient detail to guide effective conservation. Without a strategic and collaborative effort, many of the world's great migrations will continue to be truncated, severed, or lost in the coming decades. Fortunately, a combination of animal tracking datasets, historical records, and local and Indigenous knowledge can form the basis for a global atlas of migrations, designed to support conservation action and policy at local, national, and international levels