Informing conservation strategies with museum genomics: Long‐term effects of past anthropogenic persecution on the elusive European wildcat. Issue 24 (3rd December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: von Thaden, Alina; Cocchiararo, Berardino; Mueller, Sarah Ashley; Reiners, Tobias Erik; Reinert, Katharina; Tuchscherer, Iris; Janke, Axel; Nowak, Carsten
• Is Part Of: Ecology and evolution. Volume 11:Issue 24(2022)
• Page Start: 17932
• Page End: 17951
• Publication Date: 2021-12-03
• Subjects: archival DNA -- bottleneck -- conservation genetics -- Felis silvestris -- museum genomics -- spatiotemporal data; Ecology -- Periodicals; Evolution -- Periodicals; 577.05
• DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8385
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2045-7758

Abstract

Abstract: Like many carnivore species, European wildcats ( Felis silvestris ) have suffered severe anthropogenic population declines in the past, resulting in a strong population bottleneck at the beginning of the 20th century. In Germany, the species has managed to survive its near extinction in small isolated areas and is currently recolonizing former habitats owing to legal protection and concerted conservation efforts. Here, we SNP‐genotyped and mtDNA‐sequenced 56 historical and 650 contemporary samples to assess the impact of massive persecution on genetic diversity, population structure, and hybridization dynamics of wildcats. Spatiotemporal analyses suggest that the presumed postglacial differentiation between two genetically distinct metapopulations in Germany is in fact the result of the anthropogenic bottleneck followed by re‐expansion from few secluded refugia. We found that, despite the bottleneck, populations experienced no severe genetic erosion, nor suffered from elevated inbreeding or showed signs of increased hybridization with domestic cats. Our findings have significant implications for current wildcat conservation strategies, as the data analyses show that the two presently recognized wildcat population clusters should be treated as a single conservation unit. Although current populations appear under no imminent threat from genetic factors, fostering connectivity through the implementation of forest corridors will facilitate the preservation of genetic diversity and promote long‐term viability. The present study documents how museum collections can be used as essential resource for assessing long‐term anthropogenic effects on natural populations, for example, regarding population structure and the delineation of appropriate conservation units, potentially informing todays' species conservation. Abstract : European wildcats have suffered severe anthropogenic population declines in the past and are currently recovering their former habitats in Germany. Spatiotemporal genetic analyses based on historical and contemporary wildcat samples show that the presumed postglacial differentiation between metapopulations is in fact of recent anthropogenic origin. These findings have significant implications for current wildcat conservation strategies aiming to reconnect the populations by implementing migration corridors.