Scientific Reports (Nov 2024)
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
Affiliations
- Casey C. Day
- University of Montana
- Erin L. Landguth
- University of Montana
- Michael A. Sawaya
- Sinopah Wildlife Research Associates
- Anthony P Clevenger
- MSU Western Transportation Institute
- Robert A. Long
- Woodland Park Zoo
- Zachary A. Holden
- USDA Forest Service
- Jocelyn R. Akins
- Cascades Carnivore Project
- Robert B. Anderson
- Alberta Conservation Association, Crowsnest Pass
- Keith B. Aubry
- USDA Forest Service
- Mirjam Barrueto
- University of Calgary
- Nichole L. Bjornlie
- Fish & Wildlife Service
- Jeffrey P. Copeland
- Idaho Department of Fish and Game
- Jason T. Fisher
- School of Environmental Studies, University of Victoria
- Anne Forshner
- Parks Canada
- Justin A. Gude
- Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks
- Doris Hausleitner
- Selkirk College
- Nichole A. Heim
- Alberta Environment and Parks
- Kimberly S. Heinemeyer
- Braided Knowledge Consulting
- Anne Hubbs
- Government of Alberta
- Robert M. Inman
- Wildlife Conservation Society
- Scott Jackson
- USDA Forest Service
- Michael Jokinen
- Alberta Conservation Association, Crowsnest Pass
- Nathan P. Kluge
- Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks
- Andrea Kortello
- Poisson Consulting
- Deborah L. Lacroix
- Simon Fraser University
- Luke Lamar
- Swan Valley Connections
- Lisa I. Larson
- Parks Canada
- Jeffrey C. Lewis
- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Dave Lockman
- Wyoming Game & Fish Department
- Michael K. Lucid
- Fish & Wildlife Service
- Paula MacKay
- USDA Forest Service
- Audrey J. Magoun
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game
- Michelle L. McLellan
- Biodiversity Pathways, Wildlife Science Center
- Katie M. Moriarty
- National Council for Air and Stream Improvement
- Cory E. Mosby
- Idaho Department of Fish and Game
- Garth Mowat
- Ministry of Forests
- Clifford G. Nietvelt
- Ministry of Forests
- David Paetkau
- Wildlife Genetics International
- Eric C. Palm
- University of Montana
- Kylie J.S. Paul
- Center for Large Landscape Conservation
- Kristine L. Pilgrim
- USDA Forest Service
- Catherine M. Raley
- USDA Forest Service
- Michael K. Schwartz
- USDA Forest Service
- Matthew A. Scrafford
- Wildlife Conservation Society
- John R. Squires
- USDA Forest Service
- Zachary J. Walker
- Wyoming Game & Fish Department
- John S. Waller
- National Park Service
- Richard D. Weir
- Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship
- Katherine A. Zeller
- USDA Forest Service
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-77956-9
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 14,
no. 1
pp. 1 – 15
Abstract
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 km2 of 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.
