Genetic connectivity of wolverines in western North America
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 km<sup>2 </sup>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.
Authors
- Paula MacKay (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3264-0152)
- Zachary J. Walker (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1384-3309)
- Jocelyn R. Akins (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8526-240X)
- Robert A. Long (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4004-9573)
- Matthew A. Scrafford (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9971-6495)
- Michael Lucid (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0777-6365)
- David Paetkau (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1823-3991)
- Anne Forshner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1887-3443)
- Katherine A. Zeller (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2913-6660)
- Doris Hausleitner
- Eric C. Palm (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5330-4804)
- Robert M. Inman
- Nichole L. Bjornlie
- Kimberly S. Heinemeyer
- John R. Squires (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3679-4581)
- Casey C. Day (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6096-3448)
- Cory E. Mosby
- Erin L. Landguth (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7044-346X)
- Katie M. Moriarty (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3348-3403)
- Kaninika Paul (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6566-5973)
- Richard D. Weir (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5381-8514)
- Garth Mowat (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5576-2043)
- Jeffrey C. Lewis
- Nicole Heim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1164-7558)
- Anthony P. Clevenger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0380-6272)
- Audrey J. Magoun
- Michael K. Schwartz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3521-3367)
- Luke Lamar
- Zachary A. Holden (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4319-6491)
- Catherine M. Raley
- Mirjam Barrueto (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6698-547X)
- Kristine L. Pilgrim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3726-6980)
- Andrea Kortello (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8047-3331)
- Deborah L. Lacroix
- Jeffrey P. Copeland
- Justin A. Gude (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3806-7257)
- Anne Hubbs
- Scott M. Jackson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8309-4713)
- Dave C. Lockman
- Michael A. Sawaya (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3189-1737)
- Keith B. Aubry (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1844-2424)
- Jason T. Fisher (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9020-6509)
- Michael D. McLellan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2703-8784)
- John S. Waller
- Robert B. Anderson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-8114-3714)
- Lisa M. Larson
- Michael P. Jokinen
- Nathan P Kluge
- Clifford G Nietvelt
Institutions
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game (US)
- Parks Canada (CA)
- Alberta Environment and Protected Areas (CA)
- National Park Service (US)
- US Forest Service (US)
- Idaho Department of Fish and Game (US)
- Wildlife Conservation Society (US)
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service (US)
- University of Calgary (CA)
- Simon Fraser University (CA)
- University of Victoria (CA)
- Wildlife Conservation Society Canada (CA)
- Government of Alberta (CA)
- Government of British Columbia (CA)
- Western Transportation Institute (US)
- Center for Large Landscape Conservation (US)
- Pacific Insight Electronics (Canada) (CA)
- Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (US)
- Alberta Conservation Association (CA)
- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (US)
- National Council for Air and Stream Improvement (US)
- Community Connections (US)
- Wyoming Game and Fish Department (US)
- University of Montana (US)
- Selkirk College (CA)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Scientific Reports
- Published
- 2024-11-15
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-77956-9
- Citations
- 7
- Primary Topic
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 3.21
Funders
- National Science Foundation
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
- U.S. Department of the Interior
- National Geographic Society
- Alberta Conservation Association
- University of Montana
- Liz Claiborne Art Ortenberg Foundation
- Alberta Environment and Parks
- Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative
- Parks Canada
- Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- U.S. Forest Service
- Great Northern Landscape Conservation Cooperative
- Rocky Mountain Research Station