Combining Bayesian genetic clustering and ecological niche modeling: Insights into wolf intraspecific genetic structure
Abstract
The distribution of intraspecific genetic variation and how it relates to environmental factors is of increasing interest to researchers in macroecology and biogeography. Recent studies investigated the relationships between the environment and patterns of intraspecific genetic variation across species ranges but only few rigorously tested the relation between genetic groups and their ecological niches. We quantified the relationship of genetic differentiation (FST) and the overlap of ecological niches (as measured by n‐dimensional hypervolumes) among genetic groups resulting from spatial Bayesian genetic clustering in the wolf (Canis lupus) in the Italian peninsula. Within the Italian wolf population, four genetic clusters were detected, and these clusters showed different ecological niches. Moreover, different wolf clusters were significantly related to differences in land cover and human disturbance features. Such differences in the ecological niches of genetic clusters should be interpreted in light of neutral processes that hinder movement, dispersal, and gene flow among the genetic clusters, in order to not prematurely assume any selective or adaptive processes. In the present study, we found that both the plasticity of wolves—a habitat generalist—to cope with different environmental conditions and the occurrence of barriers that limit gene flow lead to the formation of genetic intraspecific genetic clusters and their distinct ecological niches. Show more
Permanent link
https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000310189Publication status
publishedExternal links
Journal / series
Ecology and EvolutionVolume
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
WileySubject
Canis lupus; genetic clustering; human disturbance; landscape genetics; mixed‐effects models; n‐dimensional hypervolumeOrganisational unit
09856 - Holderegger, Rolf / Holderegger, Rolf
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