Impact of Landscape Management on the Genetic Structure of Red Squirrel Populations

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 293; no. 5538; pp. 2246 - 2248
• Main Authors: Hale, Marie L., Peter W. W. Lurz, Mark D. F. Shirley, Rushton, Steven, Fuller, Robin M., Wolff, Kirsten
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for the Advancement of Science 21.09.2001; American Association for the Advancement of Science; The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Animal behavior; Animal behaviour; Animal genetics; Animal populations; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; British Isles, England; British Isles, Scotland; Coniferous forests; Conservation of Natural Resources; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Ecosystem; England; Environment; Eurasian red squirrel; Forest genetics; Forest habitats; Forests; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetic aspects; Genetic Variation; Genetics, Population; Genotype; Genotypes; Habitat conservation; Habitat fragmentation; Habitats; Landscaping; Parks, reserves, wildlife conservation. Endangered species: population survey and restocking; Population genetics; Rodents; Sciuridae - genetics; Sciuridae - physiology; Sciurus vulgaris; Scotland; Specimens; Squirrels; Trees; Wildlife conservation; Woodlands; England; United Kingdom; Scotland; Great Britain; Europe; United Kingdom > UK; Forests; Landscape; Rodentia; Population structure; Genetic diversity; Environmental management; Fragmentation; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Softwood forest tree; Habitat; Ecological recovery; Planting; Environmental protection
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.1062574

Landscape management practices that alter the degree of habitat fragmentation can significantly affect the genetic structure of animal populations. British red squirrels use "stepping stone" patches of habitat to move considerable distances through a fragmented habitat. Over the past few decades, the planting of a large conifer forest has connected groups of forest fragments in the north of England with those in southern Scotland. This "defragmentation" of the landscape has resulted in substantial genetic mixing of Scottish and Cumbrian genes in squirrel populations up to 100 kilometers from the site of the new forest. These results have implications for the conservation management of animal and plant species in fragmented landscapes such as those found in Britain.