Biodiversity Boreal Wolverines

Genetic connectivity of wolverines in western North America

Day, C., Landguth, E., Sawaya, M., Clevenger, A., Long, R., Holden, Z., Akins, J., Anderson, R., Aubry, K., Barrueto, M., Bjornlie, N., Copeland, J., Fisher, J., Forshner, A., Gude, J., Hausleitner, D., Heim, N., Heinemeyer, K., Hubbs, A., Inman, R., Jackson, S., Jokinen, M., Kluge, N., Kortello, A., Lacroix, D., Lamar, L., Larson, L., Lewis, J., Lockman, D., Lucid, M., MacKay, P., Magoun, A., McLellan, M., Moriarty, K., Mosby, C., Mowat, G., Nietvelt, C., Paetkau, D., Palm, E., Paul, K., Pilgrim, K., Raley, C., Schwartz, M., Scrafford, M., Squires, J., Walker, Z., Waller, J., Weir, R. & Zeller, K.

Access

---

Wolverines in North America are seeing decreasing genetic diversity and connectivity, largely due to human impacts. Their low numbers, sensitivity to climate change, and fragmented habitats led to their listing as threatened in the U.S. and of special concern in Canada.

Key points

• Wolverines are better able to maintain genetic connections in areas with higher forest cover and persistent snow.
• Human disturbances, including roads, urban areas, and energy development, create barriers to wolverine genetic connectivity.
• Maintaining forest cover, minimizing human development, and protecting corridors between wolverine habitats are essential for preserving genetic connectivity.
• Transboundary cooperation across Canada and the U.S. is critical for effective conservation.

Abstract

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 km² 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.

Recommended citation

Day, C., Landguth, E., Sawaya, M., Clevenger, A., Long, R., Holden, Z., Akins, J., Anderson, R., Aubry, K., Barrueto, M., Bjornlie, N., Copeland, J., Fisher, J., Forshner, A., Gude, J., Hausleitner, D., Heim, N., Heinemeyer, K., Hubbs, A., Inman, R., Jackson, S., Jokinen, M., Kluge, N., Kortello, A., Lacroix, D., Lamar, L., Larson, L., Lewis, J., Lockman, D., Lucid, M., MacKay, P., Magoun, A., McLellan, M., Moriarty, K., Mosby, C., Mowat, G., Nietvelt, C., Paetkau, D., Palm, E., Paul, K., Pilgrim, K., Raley, C., Schwartz, M., Scrafford, M., Squires, J., Walker, Z., Waller, J., Weir, R. & Zeller, K. (2024). Genetic connectivity of wolverines in western North America. Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-77956-9