No population genetic structure in Eurasian lynx during the
recolonization of southern Sweden
- Heather Hemmingmoore
, - Göran Spong,
- Malin Aronsson
, - Jens Persson,
- Henrik Andrén,
- Mikael Åkesson
![](https://d197for5662m48.cloudfront.net/assets/icons/omniauth/orcid-ca37582cd91a671ed5cec57770e0e96c01b4b79b8b5b75d8598fc1ddac18c974.svg)
Malin Aronsson
![](https://d197for5662m48.cloudfront.net/assets/icons/omniauth/orcid-ca37582cd91a671ed5cec57770e0e96c01b4b79b8b5b75d8598fc1ddac18c974.svg)
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Author ProfileHenrik Andrén
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Author ProfileMikael Åkesson
![](https://d197for5662m48.cloudfront.net/assets/icons/omniauth/orcid-ca37582cd91a671ed5cec57770e0e96c01b4b79b8b5b75d8598fc1ddac18c974.svg)
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Author ProfileAbstract
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In the face of ongoing habitat loss and fragmentation, examining the
genetic dynamics of range ex-pansion provides important insights into
the resilience and adaptability of large carnivore populations returning
to parts of its former range. This study investigates the genetic
structure of the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) population during its natural
range expansion into southern Sweden, an area from which it had been
extirpated for over a century. We utilized genomic data from 600
individual lynx collected throughout the recolonization period to assess
heterozygosity, inbreeding, and genetic dif-ferentiation. Our results
indicate no significant genetic structure or barriers to gene flow
during this recolonization event, despite potential physical barriers
such as lakes, farmland, and human infra-structure. Observed and
expected heterozygosity, as well as the inbreeding coefficient did not
show significant variation over time or across latitude, suggesting that
connectivity with the source popula-tion was maintained. Spatial
principal component analysis, cluster analysis, and discriminant
analysis of principal components further supported these findings,
showing little spatial or temporal structure. This lack of genetic
structure contrasts with the experience of smaller and more isolated
lynx popula-tions, which have become inbred. Our study, thus, provides
valuable insights into the natural range expansion of a large carnivore
in human-dominated landscapes and underscores the importance of ensuring
genetic connectivity for successful recolonization and conservation
efforts.Submitted to Molecular Ecology Submission Checks Completed
Assigned to Editor
Reviewer(s) Assigned
20 Jun 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
20 Jun 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned