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Non-indigenous introgression into the Norwegian red deer population

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Abstract

Rates of introgression from non-indigenous into native populations are increasing worldwide, often as a result of anthropogenic translocation events. In ungulates translocations have been common, especially among deer. European red deer consists of two distinct lineages, one western and one eastern. These probably originate from different glacial refuges, but it is unknown to what extent they hold different adaptations. Here we address dispersal and introgression into the Norwegian mainland population from an introduced island stock consisting of an admixture of both European lineages. The last decade this stock has grown considerably in number and dispersal could be expected to have increased. We therefore used samples separated by a 5 year interval from Otterøya, adjacent mainland areas and a more distant sub-population. Bayesian assignment analysis verified the genetic structure and identified dispersal between the Otterøya stock and the adjacent mainland coastal areas. Three individuals (two newly sampled) with second or third generation non-indigenous origin were found among the adjacent mainland samples (5 and 3 %, respectively). Two individuals with first and second generation mainland-origin were found on Otterøya (old samples). This suggests some non-indigenous introgression from Otterøya into the mainland Norwegian population.

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Acknowledgments

Thanks to all the hunters and game managers in the municipalities of Northern Trønderlag who has put such an interest into this project, especially Aksel Håkonsen in the administration of the Municipality Namsos.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Centre for Conservation Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491, Trondheim, Norway

    H. Haanes

  2. Section of Natural History, NTNU Museum of Natural History and Archaeology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491, Trondheim, Norway

    J. Rosvold

  3. Department of Basic Sciences and Aquatic Medicine, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, P.O. Box 8146 Dep, 0033, Oslo, Norway

    K. H. Røed

Authors
  1. H. Haanes
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  2. J. Rosvold
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  3. K. H. Røed
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Correspondence to H. Haanes.

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Haanes, H., Rosvold, J. & Røed, K.H. Non-indigenous introgression into the Norwegian red deer population. Conserv Genet 14, 237–242 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-012-0431-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-012-0431-1

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