The roe deer is the most numerous large wild herbivore in Europe and Lithuania. In Lithuania, roe deer population is continuously increasing and consists of more than 115000 individuals. The diverse landscape of the country causes differentiation of roe deer into two ecotypes: regular forest ecotype and field ecotype -as ecological forms adapted to specific environmental conditions. Classification of Roe deer into ecotypes was started in 1960s, unfortunately based on low scientific evidence. We have studied roe deer variation among ecotypes in morphological traits and DNA markers: skull traits, roebuck antler trophic value comparison and nuclear microsatellite polymorphism at five loci. Totally, 603 roe deer skulls and 228 roebuck antlers, also 79 individuals for the DNA study were sampled at different parts of the country. The ANOVA ad AMOVA analyses were carried for each age class and sex separately. The results showed that only few morphological skull traits at particular age classes showed significant differences among ecotypes. However, there were significant differences among ecotypes in the roebuck anther trophic value. We have not found significant genetic differences among ecotypes based on AMOVA. These findings suggest that the ecotypes are closely related owing to evolutionary recent separation from the common ancestor and geneflow among the ecotypes and have not reached the level of subspecies.
In Lithuania, free-ranging European bison live sedentarily in the fragmented landscape of the central part of the country. The aim of this study was to analyze the distribution and habitat selection of European bison in a semi-isolated territory. Free-ranging European bison living sedentarily have formed six groups in the mosaic landscape of central Lithuania. A herd of 34 individuals of European bison entered into a new semi-isolated territory in 2016. During the snow-free season, we tracked the movements of the herd by fitting a global positioning system (GPS) collar to the leading cow. To evaluate the home range and habitat selection, we used ArcGIS software, Jacobs’ index, and chi-square testing to verify significant differences between proportions. The home range of European bison was largest in spring, decreased in summer, and increased again in autumn; this was associated with feeding and the food supply in agricultural lands. European bison spent more time in the forest, especially during the daytime, due to disturbance, but in summer time and at night, the bison did not avoid agricultural land. In the forests, European bison preferred clear-cut, small-leaved deciduous (aspen, grey alder) forests of middle and mature age, but they avoided broad-leaved deciduous (ash), coniferous, and young forests. The increased number of European bison caused damage to agricultural crops and increased conflict with farmers.
European bison (Bison bonasus L.) is the largest herbivore in Europe. Historically, it was distributed throughout western, central, and south-eastern Europe. Habitat degradation and fragmentation due to agricultural activity, forest loggings, and unlimited hunting were the main reasons for the decrease and extinction of European bison populations. In Lithuania, European bison were exterminated in the seventeenth century, but reintroduced in 1969. The species is still included in the country's Red Data Book. The first free ranging herd was established in 1973. Currently, the population of 186 free-ranging European bison individuals could be observed in the central part of the country -Panevezys and Kedainiai regions. European bison are spread in a highly anthropogenic agricultural landscape. Free-ranging European bison spend most of their time in forested areas, semi-open areas and forest fragments in agro-lands and agricultural fields, causing high damage rate to local farmers. They prefer young coniferous stands to mature and over-mature hardwood or softwood deciduous stands. In agricultural fields they prefer grain and corn to rape, leguminous or perennial grass. Recently, the amount of damage compensation reached 98820 euros per year. A test of a new method for evaluating the damage to agricultural fields caused by bison was successfully used by analysing orthophotoplan, obtained by using unmanned aircraft.
Highlights• Lithuanian roe deer populations are genetically structured into southern and northern groups, most likely affected by a divergent gene flow and Lithuania's largest rivers slowing down migration.• Microsatellite and skull morphology based genetic differentiation between field and forest ecotypes are weak.• Geographical location has a significant effect on antler morphometry traits and skull size of male roe deer, the latter increasing northwards. AbstractThe objective of our study was to assess the genetic and morphological differentiation of European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) in Lithuania based on DNA markers, skull and anther morphology. DNA was extracted from 79 culled individuals at 13 locations and genotyped at five nuclear microsatellite loci. Based on culling location, individuals were assigned to either a field (N = 43) or a forest ecotype (N = 36). Skull and antler morphometry was studied on 603 and 292 individuals, respectively. Results showed no significant genetic and skull morphology differentiation between the ecotypes. The forest ecotype tends to exhibit lower genetic diversity compared to the field ecotype, particularly for male individuals. The genetic differentiation of roe deer in Lithuania was significant based on the R ST values, but not on the F ST values. A STRUCTURE analyses revealed southern and northern genetic clusters, most likely affected by divergent gene flow. The country's major rivers Nemunas and Neris are likely to increase differentiation between the clusters. ANOVA on skull morphology by gender and age indicated a significant effect of geographical location. Skull size (especially length) is greater in the northern part of the country. We also found significant effects of age, ecotype and geographical location on most of the roe deer male antler morphometric traits.
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