Movement patterns and genetic diversity of wild and reintroduced common dormice, Muscardinus avellanarius

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Movement is an important life history trait that can have an impact on local adaptation, and other evolutionary phenomena. We used a combination of nestbox survey data and genetic techniques (genotyping at 10 microsatellite loci) to quantify patterns of movement in common dormice Muscardinus avellanarius at two distinct sites in the UK: 1) Bontuchel (a natural population) and 2) Wych (captivebred individuals that were reintroduced to this site), over three consecutive years (2006)(2007)(2008). Both methods revealed a consistent pattern of sex-biased movement (movements by adult males and females) in both populations that allowed isolation-by-distance genetic structure to develop within 1 km. The similarity of data from captivebred and natural individuals indicated that ex situ programing has not significantly altered the natural movement behavior of common dormice; consequently, the two populations could be managed with the same conservation strategies. We also found that the reintroduced dormice in Wych maintained relatively high levels of genetic diversity. This first report of movement patterns in reintroduced and natural populations of M. avellanarius combining genetic and field-survey data highlights the role of genetic studies in the investigation of ecological behaviour and for conservation management.

Silvicolous on a Small Scale: Possibilities and Limitations of Habitat Suitability Models for Small, Elusive Mammals in Conservation Management and Landscape Planning

“…Both values should be low as M . avellanarius is a forest-dwelling species with low dispersal ability outside of forests or grooves [55, 56]. Muscardinus avellanarius is sensitive to ambient temperature and precipitation [57] which became apparent in the different models as many explanatory variables concern these two factors.…”