Genetic connectivity of wolverines in western North America

Casey C. Day; Erin L. Landguth; Michael A. Sawaya; Anthony P. Clevenger; Robert A. Long; Zachary A. Holden; Jocelyn R. Akins; Robert B. Anderson; Keith B. Aubry; Mirjam Barrueto; Nichole L. Bjornlie; Jeffrey P. Copeland; Jason T. Fisher; Anne Forshner; Justin A. Gude; Doris Hausleitner; Nichole A. Heim; Kimberly S. Heinemeyer; Anne Hubbs; Robert M. Inman; Scott Jackson; Michael Jokinen; Nathan P. Kluge; Andrea Kortello; Deborah L. Lacroix; Luke Lamar; Lisa I. Larson; Jeffrey C. Lewis; Dave Lockman; Michael K. Lucid; Paula MacKay; Audrey J. Magoun; Michelle L. McLellan; Katie M. Moriarty; Cory E. Mosby; Garth Mowat; Clifford G. Nietvelt; David Paetkau; Eric C. Palm; Kylie J.S. Paul; Kristine L. Pilgrim; Catherine M. Raley; Michael K. Schwartz; Matthew A. Scrafford; John R. Squires; Zachary J. Walker; John S. Waller; Richard D. Weir; Katherine A. Zeller

doi:10.1038/s41598-024-77956-9

Genetic connectivity of wolverines in western North America

Casey C. Day, Erin L. Landguth, Michael A. Sawaya, Anthony P. Clevenger, Robert A. Long, Zachary A. Holden, Jocelyn R. Akins, Robert B. Anderson, Keith B. Aubry, Mirjam Barrueto, Nichole L. Bjornlie, Jeffrey P. Copeland, Jason T. Fisher, Anne Forshner, Justin A. Gude, Doris Hausleitner, Nichole A. Heim, Kimberly S. Heinemeyer, Anne Hubbs, Robert M. InmanScott Jackson, Michael Jokinen, Nathan P. Kluge, Andrea Kortello, Deborah L. Lacroix, Luke Lamar, Lisa I. Larson, Jeffrey C. Lewis, Dave Lockman, Michael K. Lucid, Paula MacKay, Audrey J. Magoun, Michelle L. McLellan, Katie M. Moriarty, Cory E. Mosby, Garth Mowat, Clifford G. Nietvelt, David Paetkau, Eric C. Palm, Kylie J.S. Paul, Kristine L. Pilgrim, Catherine M. Raley, Michael K. Schwartz, Matthew A. Scrafford, John R. Squires, Zachary J. Walker, John S. Waller, Richard D. Weir, Katherine A. Zeller

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Wolverine distribution contracted along the southern periphery of its range in North America during the 19th and 20th centuries due primarily to human influences. This history, along with low densities, sensitivity to climate change, and concerns about connectivity among fragmented habitats spurred the recent US federal listing of threatened status and special concern status in Canada. To help inform large scale landscape connectivity, we collected 882 genetic samples genotyped at 19 microsatellite loci. We employed multiple statistical models to assess the landscape factors (terrain complexity, human disturbance, forest configuration, and climate) associated with wolverine genetic connectivity across 2.2 million km²of southwestern Canada and the northwestern contiguous United States. Genetic similarity (positive spatial autocorrelation) of wolverines was detected up to 555 km and a high-to-low gradient of genetic diversity occurred from north-to-south. Landscape genetics analyses confirmed that wolverine genetic connectivity has been negatively influenced by human disturbance at broad scales and positively influenced by forest cover and snow persistence at fine- and broad–scales, respectively. This information applied across large landscapes can be used to guide management actions with the goal of maintaining or restoring population connectivity.

Original language	English
Article number	28248
Journal	Scientific Reports
Volume	14
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-77956-9
State	Published - Dec 2024

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Day, C. C., Landguth, E. L., Sawaya, M. A., Clevenger, A. P., Long, R. A., Holden, Z. A., Akins, J. R., Anderson, R. B., Aubry, K. B., Barrueto, M., Bjornlie, N. L., Copeland, J. P., Fisher, J. T., Forshner, A., Gude, J. A., Hausleitner, D., Heim, N. A., Heinemeyer, K. S., Hubbs, A., ... Zeller, K. A. (2024). Genetic connectivity of wolverines in western North America. Scientific Reports, 14(1), Article 28248. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-77956-9

@article{09e78ec641da4ebbb215a17d4c4f0e55,

title = "Genetic connectivity of wolverines in western North America",

abstract = "Wolverine distribution contracted along the southern periphery of its range in North America during the 19th and 20th centuries due primarily to human influences. This history, along with low densities, sensitivity to climate change, and concerns about connectivity among fragmented habitats spurred the recent US federal listing of threatened status and special concern status in Canada. To help inform large scale landscape connectivity, we collected 882 genetic samples genotyped at 19 microsatellite loci. We employed multiple statistical models to assess the landscape factors (terrain complexity, human disturbance, forest configuration, and climate) associated with wolverine genetic connectivity across 2.2 million km2of southwestern Canada and the northwestern contiguous United States. Genetic similarity (positive spatial autocorrelation) of wolverines was detected up to 555 km and a high-to-low gradient of genetic diversity occurred from north-to-south. Landscape genetics analyses confirmed that wolverine genetic connectivity has been negatively influenced by human disturbance at broad scales and positively influenced by forest cover and snow persistence at fine- and broad–scales, respectively. This information applied across large landscapes can be used to guide management actions with the goal of maintaining or restoring population connectivity.",

author = "Day, {Casey C.} and Landguth, {Erin L.} and Sawaya, {Michael A.} and Clevenger, {Anthony P.} and Long, {Robert A.} and Holden, {Zachary A.} and Akins, {Jocelyn R.} and Anderson, {Robert B.} and Aubry, {Keith B.} and Mirjam Barrueto and Bjornlie, {Nichole L.} and Copeland, {Jeffrey P.} and Fisher, {Jason T.} and Anne Forshner and Gude, {Justin A.} and Doris Hausleitner and Heim, {Nichole A.} and Heinemeyer, {Kimberly S.} and Anne Hubbs and Inman, {Robert M.} and Scott Jackson and Michael Jokinen and Kluge, {Nathan P.} and Andrea Kortello and Lacroix, {Deborah L.} and Luke Lamar and Larson, {Lisa I.} and Lewis, {Jeffrey C.} and Dave Lockman and Lucid, {Michael K.} and Paula MacKay and Magoun, {Audrey J.} and McLellan, {Michelle L.} and Moriarty, {Katie M.} and Mosby, {Cory E.} and Garth Mowat and Nietvelt, {Clifford G.} and David Paetkau and Palm, {Eric C.} and Paul, {Kylie J.S.} and Pilgrim, {Kristine L.} and Raley, {Catherine M.} and Schwartz, {Michael K.} and Scrafford, {Matthew A.} and Squires, {John R.} and Walker, {Zachary J.} and Waller, {John S.} and Weir, {Richard D.} and Zeller, {Katherine A.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply 2024.",

year = "2024",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1038/s41598-024-77956-9",

language = "English",

volume = "14",

journal = "Scientific Reports",

issn = "2045-2322",

number = "1",

}

Day, CC, Landguth, EL, Sawaya, MA, Clevenger, AP, Long, RA, Holden, ZA, Akins, JR, Anderson, RB, Aubry, KB, Barrueto, M, Bjornlie, NL, Copeland, JP, Fisher, JT, Forshner, A, Gude, JA, Hausleitner, D, Heim, NA, Heinemeyer, KS, Hubbs, A, Inman, RM, Jackson, S, Jokinen, M, Kluge, NP, Kortello, A, Lacroix, DL, Lamar, L, Larson, LI, Lewis, JC, Lockman, D, Lucid, MK, MacKay, P, Magoun, AJ, McLellan, ML, Moriarty, KM, Mosby, CE, Mowat, G, Nietvelt, CG, Paetkau, D, Palm, EC, Paul, KJS, Pilgrim, KL, Raley, CM, Schwartz, MK, Scrafford, MA, Squires, JR, Walker, ZJ, Waller, JS, Weir, RD & Zeller, KA 2024, 'Genetic connectivity of wolverines in western North America', Scientific Reports, vol. 14, no. 1, 28248. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-77956-9

TY - JOUR

T1 - Genetic connectivity of wolverines in western North America

AU - Day, Casey C.

AU - Landguth, Erin L.

AU - Sawaya, Michael A.

AU - Clevenger, Anthony P.

AU - Long, Robert A.

AU - Holden, Zachary A.

AU - Akins, Jocelyn R.

AU - Anderson, Robert B.

AU - Aubry, Keith B.

AU - Barrueto, Mirjam

AU - Bjornlie, Nichole L.

AU - Copeland, Jeffrey P.

AU - Fisher, Jason T.

AU - Forshner, Anne

AU - Gude, Justin A.

AU - Hausleitner, Doris

AU - Heim, Nichole A.

AU - Heinemeyer, Kimberly S.

AU - Hubbs, Anne

AU - Inman, Robert M.

AU - Jackson, Scott

AU - Jokinen, Michael

AU - Kluge, Nathan P.

AU - Kortello, Andrea

AU - Lacroix, Deborah L.

AU - Lamar, Luke

AU - Larson, Lisa I.

AU - Lewis, Jeffrey C.

AU - Lockman, Dave

AU - Lucid, Michael K.

AU - MacKay, Paula

AU - Magoun, Audrey J.

AU - McLellan, Michelle L.

AU - Moriarty, Katie M.

AU - Mosby, Cory E.

AU - Mowat, Garth

AU - Nietvelt, Clifford G.

AU - Paetkau, David

AU - Palm, Eric C.

AU - Paul, Kylie J.S.

AU - Pilgrim, Kristine L.

AU - Raley, Catherine M.

AU - Schwartz, Michael K.

AU - Scrafford, Matthew A.

AU - Squires, John R.

AU - Walker, Zachary J.

AU - Waller, John S.

AU - Weir, Richard D.

AU - Zeller, Katherine A.

PY - 2024/12

Y1 - 2024/12

N2 - Wolverine distribution contracted along the southern periphery of its range in North America during the 19th and 20th centuries due primarily to human influences. This history, along with low densities, sensitivity to climate change, and concerns about connectivity among fragmented habitats spurred the recent US federal listing of threatened status and special concern status in Canada. To help inform large scale landscape connectivity, we collected 882 genetic samples genotyped at 19 microsatellite loci. We employed multiple statistical models to assess the landscape factors (terrain complexity, human disturbance, forest configuration, and climate) associated with wolverine genetic connectivity across 2.2 million km2of southwestern Canada and the northwestern contiguous United States. Genetic similarity (positive spatial autocorrelation) of wolverines was detected up to 555 km and a high-to-low gradient of genetic diversity occurred from north-to-south. Landscape genetics analyses confirmed that wolverine genetic connectivity has been negatively influenced by human disturbance at broad scales and positively influenced by forest cover and snow persistence at fine- and broad–scales, respectively. This information applied across large landscapes can be used to guide management actions with the goal of maintaining or restoring population connectivity.

AB - Wolverine distribution contracted along the southern periphery of its range in North America during the 19th and 20th centuries due primarily to human influences. This history, along with low densities, sensitivity to climate change, and concerns about connectivity among fragmented habitats spurred the recent US federal listing of threatened status and special concern status in Canada. To help inform large scale landscape connectivity, we collected 882 genetic samples genotyped at 19 microsatellite loci. We employed multiple statistical models to assess the landscape factors (terrain complexity, human disturbance, forest configuration, and climate) associated with wolverine genetic connectivity across 2.2 million km2of southwestern Canada and the northwestern contiguous United States. Genetic similarity (positive spatial autocorrelation) of wolverines was detected up to 555 km and a high-to-low gradient of genetic diversity occurred from north-to-south. Landscape genetics analyses confirmed that wolverine genetic connectivity has been negatively influenced by human disturbance at broad scales and positively influenced by forest cover and snow persistence at fine- and broad–scales, respectively. This information applied across large landscapes can be used to guide management actions with the goal of maintaining or restoring population connectivity.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85209703932&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1038/s41598-024-77956-9

DO - 10.1038/s41598-024-77956-9

M3 - Article

C2 - 39548133

AN - SCOPUS:85209703932

SN - 2045-2322

VL - 14

JO - Scientific Reports

JF - Scientific Reports

IS - 1

M1 - 28248

ER -

Genetic connectivity of wolverines in western North America

Abstract

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