title: Long-range gene flow and the effects of climatic and ecological factors on genetic structuring in a large, solitary carnivore: the Eurasian lynx.
abstract: Due to their high mobility, large terrestrial predators are potentially capable of maintaining high connectivity, and therefore low genetic differentiation among populations. However, previous molecular studies have provided contradictory findings in relation to this. To elucidate patterns of genetic structure in large carnivores, we studied the genetic variability of the Eurasian lynx, Lynx lynx throughout north-eastern Europe using microsatellite, mitochondrial DNA control region and Y chromosome-linked markers. Using SAMOVA we found analogous patterns of genetic structure based on both mtDNA and microsatellites, which coincided with a relatively little evidence for male-biased dispersal. No polymorphism for the cytochrome b and ATP6 mtDNA genes and Y chromosome-linked markers were found. Lynx inhabiting a large area encompassing Finland, the Baltic countries and western Russia formed a single genetic unit, while some marginal populations were clearly divergent from others. The existence of a migration corridor was suggested to correspond with distribution of continuous forest cover. The lowest variability (in both markers) was found in lynx from Norway and Białowieża Primeval Forest (BPF), which coincided with a recent demographic bottleneck (Norway) or high habitat fragmentation (BPF). The Carpathian population, being monomorphic for the control region, showed relatively high microsatellite diversity, suggesting the effect of a past bottleneck (e.g. during Last Glacial Maximum) on its present genetic composition. Genetic structuring for the mtDNA control region was best explained by latitude and snow cover depth. Microsatellite structuring correlated with the lynx's main prey, especially the proportion of red deer (Cervus elaphus) in its diet. Eurasian lynx are capable of maintaining panmictic populations across eastern Europe unless they are severely limited by habitat continuity or a reduction in numbers. Different correlations of mtDNA and microsatellite population divergence patterns with climatic and ecological factors may suggest separate selective pressures acting on males and females in this solitary carnivore.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biology, University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Mirosław
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ratkiewicz
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biology, University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matosiuk
authors.affiliation: B. M. Zhitkov Russian Research Institute of Game Management and Fur Farming, Russian Academy of Sciences, Kirov, Russia.
authors.forename: Alexander P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Saveljev
authors.affiliation: Centre for Biological Resources (former Institute of Zoology) of National Academy of Sciences, Minsk, Belarus.
authors.forename: Vadim
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sidorovich
authors.affiliation: Latvian State Forest Research Institute "Silava", Salaspils, Latvia.
authors.forename: Janis
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ozolins
authors.affiliation: Estonian Environment Agency, Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Peep
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Männil
authors.affiliation: Nature Research Centre, Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Linas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Balciauskas
authors.affiliation: Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute, Oulu Game and Fisheries Research, University of Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Ilpo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kojola
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Henryk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okarma
authors.affiliation: Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Białowieża, Poland.
authors.forename: Rafał
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kowalczyk
authors.affiliation: Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Białowieża, Poland.
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size; D060435:Carnivory; D002980:Climate; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D051456:Gene Flow; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005843:Geography; D046008:Lynx / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011157:Population Dynamics; D014998:Y Chromosome / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D005819:Genetic Markers