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Shift of grey seal subspecies boundaries in response to climate, culling and conservation
Author(s) -
Fietz Katharina,
Galatius Anders,
Teilmann Jonas,
Dietz Rune,
Frie Anne Kristine,
Klimova Anastasia,
Palsbøll Per J.,
Jensen Lasse F.,
Graves Jeff A.,
Hoffman Joseph I.,
Olsen Morten Tange
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
molecular ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.619
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1365-294X
pISSN - 0962-1083
DOI - 10.1111/mec.13748
Subject(s) - subspecies , extinction (optical mineralogy) , ecology , range (aeronautics) , biology , habitat , local extinction , population , climate change , colonization , biological dispersal , paleontology , materials science , demography , sociology , composite material
Identifying the processes that drive changes in the abundance and distribution of natural populations is a central theme in ecology and evolution. Many species of marine mammals have experienced dramatic changes in abundance and distribution due to climatic fluctuations and anthropogenic impacts. However, thanks to conservation efforts, some of these species have shown remarkable population recovery and are now recolonizing their former ranges. Here, we use zooarchaeological, demographic and genetic data to examine processes of colonization, local extinction and recolonization of the two northern E uropean grey seal subspecies inhabiting the B altic S ea and N orth S ea. The zooarchaeological and genetic data suggest that the two subspecies diverged shortly after the formation of the Baltic Sea approximately 4200 years bp , probably through a gradual shift to different breeding habitats and phenologies. By comparing genetic data from 19th century pre‐extinction material with that from seals currently recolonizing their past range, we observed a marked spatiotemporal shift in subspecies boundaries, with increasing encroachment of North Sea seals on areas previously occupied by the Baltic Sea subspecies. Further, both demographic and genetic data indicate that the two subspecies have begun to overlap geographically and are hybridizing in a narrow contact zone. Our findings provide new insights into the processes of colonization, extinction and recolonization and have important implications for the management of grey seals across northern Europe.