Article (Scientific journals)
Current genetic admixture between relictual populations might enhance the recovery of an elusive carnivore, the European otter (Lutra lutra)
Pigneur, Lise Marie; Caublot, Gaelle; Fournier-Chambrillon, Christine et al.
2019In Conservation Genetics, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-019-01199-9
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Abstract :
[en] The present study investigated the natural recovery of the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) in France. The otter was widely distributed in France at the dawn of the 20th century, but then its range considerably shrank and became highly fragmented until the early 1970s, just before it was legally protected. However, for more than 25 years, the otter has been reconquering several parts of its original range and is now considered to be in expansion in France. We investigated the genetic differentiation and diversity of several populations from western and central France and northern Spain to gain insight into the recolonisation dynamics of this elusive species. The present study, based on the use of 14 microsatellite markers, revealed that otter populations seem to be split into five distinct groups. The distribution of samples in those five clusters was closely correlated with suspected refugia where the otter probably survived during the 20th century. Admixture was observed between genetic lineages, possibly enhancing their genetic diversity and thus increasing the recolonisation dynamics of these populations. This phenomenon resembles the genetic pattern noted in many invasive exotic species derived from multiple sources and introduction events. Finally, a demographic approach revealed the probable link between historical human pressure and otter population fragmentation patterns.
Disciplines :
Zoology
Author, co-author :
Pigneur, Lise Marie
Caublot, Gaelle
Fournier-Chambrillon, Christine
Fournier, Pascal
Girralda-Carrera, G.
Grémillet, Xavier
Le Roux, Bernard
Marc, Daniel
Simonnet, Franck
Smitz, Nathalie
Sourp, Eric
Steinmetz, Julien
Urra-Maya, F.
Michaux, Johan  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences de la vie > Laboratoire de génétique de la conservation
More authors (4 more) Less
Language :
English
Title :
Current genetic admixture between relictual populations might enhance the recovery of an elusive carnivore, the European otter (Lutra lutra)
Publication date :
2019
Journal title :
Conservation Genetics
ISSN :
1566-0621
Publisher :
Kluwer Academic Publishers, Netherlands
Volume :
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-019-01199-9
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Available on ORBi :
since 29 June 2019

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