A European Concern? Genetic Structure and Expansion of Golden Jackals (Canis aureus) in Europe and the Caucasus.

摘要: 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 analysis revealed low levels diversity, reflecting history among Europe’s carnivores. The results suggest ongoing gene flow between south-eastern Europe Caucasus, both contributing Baltic population, which appeared only recently. from Peloponnese Peninsula in southern Greece forms common cluster (ΔK approach STRUCTURE, Principal Components Analysis [PCA]), although based on BAPS estimated likelihood STRUCTURE indicate that Peloponnesian jackals may represent distinct population. Moreover, analyses also either distinctiveness island Samos near coast Asia Minor (BAPS, most PCA), or possibly connection Caucasus (one STRUCTURE). speculate our ancient Mediterranean populations have persisted present day, merged colonising Asia. These data new be founded by long-distance dispersal, thus should not treated as an invasive alien species, i.e. organism is “non-native ecosystem, cause economic environmental harm adversely affect human health”. insights ancestry important implications for management conservation Europe. listed Annex V species EU Habitats Directive such, considering presented here, legally protected all member states.