Conservation genetic research and monitoring of brown bear in Norway and northern Europe

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1 Conservation genetic research and monitoring of brown bear in Norway and northern Europe CORNELYA F.C. KLÜTSCH, HANS GEIR EIKEN, SNORRE B. HAGEN Photo: Steinar Wikan NIBIO NORWEGIAN INSTITUTE OF BIOECONOMY RESEARCH SVANHOVD NORWAY

2 Brown bear PHOTO: ALEXANDER KOPATZ

3 NIBIO Svanhovd Photos: NIBIO Svanhovd Species: Brown bear Polar bear Grizzly and black bear Lynx Red fox Brown trout Lumpfish Geometric moths 11/6/2018 3

4 Photo: Karl-Otto Jacobsen

5 Photo: Pasvikkompaniet

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7 Annual genetic monitoring

8 Recovery of wildlife populations in Europe and The Carnivore Comeback Enserink & Vogel 2006 Deinet et al Chapron et al /6/2018 8

9 Drawing by Leif Ollila 11/6/2018 9

10 What methods do we have to study bears? Observations Track counting Dead bears Marking and collaring bears Non-invasive genetic sampling Photo: Steinar Wikan 11/6/

11 Advantages of the DNA method Nondisturbing method Biological sample Individual identification Individual sex Family identification Capture-recapture Activity and range patterns Local engagement and citizen science Photo: Alexander Kopatz 11/6/

12 Hair snares to collect bear samples Drawing: Leif Ollila 11/6/

13 Monitoring of brown bear population using hair-trapping Photo: Alexander Kopatz 11/6/

14 Barbed wire: harm to wildlife or humans? NO! https//vimeo.com/ /6/

15 Monitoring methods - workflow Sampling Registration DNA Analysis DNA-basert overvåkning Identification Results Data Analysis Reporting

16 Total: 1034 samples Collected samples in feces samples 249 hair samples 9 tissue samples 350 Collected samples Finnmark Troms Nordland Nord-Trøndelag Sør-Trøndelag Oppland Hedmark Ekskrement Hår

17 Number of bears detected 2017 Hedmark 38,4% Finnmark 29,6% Sør- Trøndelag 1.6% Nord- Trøndelag 23,2% Troms 5,6% Nordland 1,6% Finnmark Troms Nordland Nord-Trøndelag Sør-Trøndelag Hedmark

18 National Monitoring brown bears 55 females 70 males

19 Effort and areal Samples collected in 2014 Samples collected in Sør-Varanger Number of bears samples 699 samples

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21 The brown bear in Northern Europe Svanhovd Kola Arkhangelsk FINLAND NORWAY SWEDEN ESTONIA Karelia RUSSIA Population size estimations Norway: [minimum] ~150 Sweden: ~2,800 Finland: ~2,000 Russia: ~130,000 Estonia: ~700 Photo: Alexander Kopatz 11/6/

22 Admixture and Gene Flow from Russia in the Recovering Northern European Brown Bear East-west migration in Northern Europe Genetic data strongly suggests - Recovery of the Finnish population by substantial immigration of bears from Russia - Recovery of the Swedish population without immigration N=517 bears Kopatz et al /6/

23 Evidence of rapid change in genetic structure and diversity during range expansion Range expansion and genetic patterns Fast genetic changes within 1.5 generations during recovery are suggesting a concerted action of - growth of the Finnish bear population - directional migration from Russia into Finland - range expansion from south to north N=819 bears Hagen et al /6/

24 Y chromosome haplotype distribution of brown bears (Ursus arctos) in Northern Europe Male haplotype distribution and population genetic structure across Northern Europe Y-haplotype distribution Male gene flow not determining factor in population recovery = Division zone Schregel et al /6/

25 Brown bear Y-haplotypes east vs. west Material: 443 males 4 Finland ~ Russia ~ Norway ~200 Sweden ~3.200 No. of haplotypes 36 different Y-haplotypes and Y-linages (3 haplogroups)

26 Brown bears: Gene flow Dark green: trees/forest Light green: Scrub/bush, cropland, grassland Blue: water Norway ~200 Sweden ~3.200 Finland ~1.500 Russia ~ Brown: tundra Dashed: bog, land subject to inundation

27 Conclusions The recovery of the brown bears in Northern Europe Genetic data provided novel insight This level of insight would not have been gained based on traditional (ecological) monitoring methods alone.?? Kola Arkhangelsk Karelia Illustrates the value of transdisiplinary and cross-border scientific cooperation. Brown bear distribution in Northern Europe. Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe. European Commission. 27

28 Contributors/collaboration partners Jouni Aspi (University of Oulu) Ilpo Kojola (Natural Resources Institute Finland) Alexander Kopatz (NINA) Julia Schregel Siv Grethe Aarnes Ida Marie Bardalen Fløystad (NIBIO) Volunteers current and former technicians

29 PHOTO: STEINAR WIKAN PHOTO: ALEXANDER KOPATZ Questions? Thanks a lot for your attention!