A5001997312- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Ecology and biodiversity studies
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology
- Forensic and Genetic Research
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Forest Management and Policy
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Climate variability and models
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Agriculture and Biological Studies
- Rabies epidemiology and control
- Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Biomedical Research
- Agricultural Productivity and Crop Improvement
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
- Identification and Quantification in Food
Estonian Environmental Research Center (Estonia)
2019-2025
Environment Agency
2022
The conservation of large carnivores is a formidable challenge for biodiversity conservation. Using data set on the past and current status brown bears ( Ursus arctos ), Eurasian lynx Lynx gray wolves Canis lupus wolverines Gulo gulo ) in European countries, we show that roughly one-third mainland Europe hosts at least one carnivore species, with stable or increasing abundance most cases 21st-century records. reasons this overall success include protective legislation, supportive public...
The brown bear has proved a useful model for studying Late Quaternary mammalian phylogeography. However, information is lacking from northern continental Eurasia, which constitutes large part of the species' current distribution. We analysed mitochondrial DNA sequences (totalling 1943 bp) 205 bears northeast Europe and Russia in order to characterize maternal phylogeography this region. also estimated formation times sampled lineages those its extinct relative, cave bear. Four closely...
Abstract The increasing trend of large carnivore attacks on humans not only raises human safety concerns but may also undermine conservation efforts. Although rare, by brown bears Ursus arctos are the rise and, although several studies have addressed this issue at local scales, information is lacking a worldwide scale. Here, we investigated bear (n = 664) between 2000 and 2015 across most range inhabited species: North America 183), Europe 291), East 190). When occurred, half people were...
The recovery of wolves ( Canis lupus ) across Europe is a notable conservation success in region with extensive human alteration landscapes and high population densities. We provide comprehensive update on wolf populations Europe, estimated at over 21,500 individuals by 2022, representing 58% increase the past decade. Despite challenges densities significant land use for agriculture, industry, urbanization, have demonstrated remarkable adaptability increasing trends most European countries....
Abstract We estimated the phylogenetic relationships of brown bear maternal haplotypes from countries northeastern Europe (Estonia, Finland and European Russia), using sequences mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region 231 bears. Twenty‐five mtDNA were identified. The population in can be divided into three haplogroups: one with bears all countries, Russia, third composed almost exclusively Russia. Four Russia matched exactly Slovakia, suggesting significance current territory Slovakia...
Knowledge of population structure and genetic diversity the spatio-temporal demographic processes affecting populations is crucial for effective wildlife preservation, yet these factors are still poorly understood organisms with large continuous ranges. Available data reveal that widespread mammals have most part only been carefully studied at local scale, which insufficient understanding larger scales. Here, we provide on structure, gene flow in a brown bear inhabiting territory...
Omnivores exploit numerous sources of protein and other nutrients throughout the year, meat is generally considered a high-quality resource. However, it unknown if there any general association between latitude carnivorous behavior in omnivorous mammals. We examined relative importance dietary components, including anthropogenic food items, diet brown bears (Ursus arctos) Estonia using conventional scat- stomach-content analyses as well stable-isotope (δ15N, δ13C) analyses. When habits were...
Studies on hybridization have proved critical for understanding key evolutionary processes such as speciation and adaptation. However, from the perspective of conservation, poses a concern, it can threaten integrity fitness many wild species, including canids. As result habitat fragmentation extensive hunting pressure, gray wolf (Canis lupus) populations declined dramatically in Europe elsewhere during recent centuries. Small fragmented persisted, but often only presence large numbers dogs,...
In the first continent-wide study of golden jackal (Canis aureus), we characterised its population genetic structure and attempted to identify origin European populations. This provided a unique insight into characteristics native carnivore with rapid large-scale expansion. We analysed 15 microsatellite markers 406 base-pair fragment mitochondrial control region. Bayesian-based principal components methods were applied evaluate whether geographical grouping samples corresponded groups. Our...
Abstract Aim Using sequences of complete mitochondrial genomes, our aims were: (1) to investigate the matrilineal phylogeographical structure, migration patterns and lineage coalescence times in a large, continuous population brown bears ( Ursus arctos ); (2) develop novel spatial genetic method identify corridors barriers. Location North‐western Eurasia: from eastern European Russia Baltic Sea. Methods We sequenced genomes 95 bears. The resolution was compared that derived subsets genome,...
Anthropogenic hybridisation is widely perceived as a threat to the conservation of biodiversity. Nevertheless, date, relevant policy and management interventions are unresolved highly convoluted. While this due inherent complexity issue, we hereby hypothesise that lack agreement concerning goals approaches, within scientific community, may explain social awareness on phenomenon, absence effective pressure decision-makers. By focusing wolf x dog in Europe, (a) assess state art issues (b)...
Abstract Edge effects occur when the matrix has adverse impacts on patches of remnant habitat. A widely explored example this is hypothesis a higher predation pressure bird nests closer to habitat edge. In parallel with recent loss open habitats through afforestation as climate change mitigation measure, an interest in impact forest species dependent re‐emerged. We follow wader nest survival study issue edge effect system wet grasslands fragmented by forests region where it not been tested...
Abstract Context Adjustments in habitat use by large carnivores can be a key factor facilitating their coexistence with people shared landscapes. Landscape composition might determining how adapt to occurring alongside humans, yet broad-scale analyses investigating adjustments of across gradients human pressure and landscape are lacking. Objectives Here, we investigate Eurasian lynx ( Lynx ) response varying availability refuge habitats (i.e., forests rugged terrain) modification. Methods...
1. Wildlife managers often rely on resource users, such as recreational or commercial hunters, to achieve management goals. The use of hunters control wildlife populations is especially common for predators and ungulates, but cannot assume that will always fill annual quotas set by the authorities. It has been advocated models should account uncertainty in how harvest rules are realized, requiring this implementation be estimated.2. We used a survival analysis framework long-term data from...
Sharing space with large carnivores on a human-dominated continent like Europe results in multiple conflictful interactions human interests, of which depredation livestock is the most widespread. We conducted an analysis impact by all four European sheep farming 10 countries, during period 2010–2015. ran hierarchical Simultaneous Autoregressive model, to assess influence several ecological factors reported levels. About 35,000 (SD = 4110) kills were compensated ten countries as caused...
Due to their high mobility, large terrestrial predators are potentially capable of maintaining connectivity, and therefore low genetic differentiation among populations. However, previous molecular studies have provided contradictory findings in relation this. To elucidate patterns structure carnivores, we studied the variability Eurasian lynx, Lynx lynx throughout north-eastern Europe using microsatellite, mitochondrial DNA control region Y chromosome-linked markers. Using SAMOVA found...
Abstract Large terrestrial carnivores are particularly prone to factors constraining levels of population genetic diversity because their low densities and high spatial requirements. We studied the pattern E urasian lynx L ynx variability in westernmost part its natural range from Scandinavia C arpathian M ountains (north‐central urope) based on 190 samples using 613 base pair‐long sequences mitochondrial DNA control region ( mtDNA‐cr ). examined whether history or contemporary habitat...
Spatial genetics is a relatively new field in wildlife and conservation biology that becoming an essential tool for unravelling the complexities of animal population processes, designing effective strategies management. Conceptual methodological developments this are therefore critical. Here we present two novel approaches further analytical possibilities STRUCTURE DResD. Using these analyse structure migrations grey wolf (Canis lupus) north-eastern Europe. We genotyped 16 microsatellite...
Abstract Aim The increasing availability of animal tracking datasets collected across many sites provides new opportunities to move beyond local assessments enable detailed and consistent habitat mapping at biogeographical scales. However, integrating wildlife large areas study is challenging, as species' varying responses different environmental contexts must be reconciled. Here, we compare approaches for large‐area assess available a recolonizing carnivore, the Eurasian lynx ( Lynx )....