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Population genetics of grey wolf in Western Carpathians
Veselovská, Lenka ; Hulva, Pavel (advisor) ; Suchomel, Josef (referee)
The grey wolf is a top predator that plays a keystone role in maintaining the ecological balance of forested habitats. This master thesis focuses on the population structure and demography of the grey wolves in Slovakia, using data collected over two winter seasons between 2017 and 2019. Special attention is directed to the Western Carpathians. In Slovakia, the range of the wolf may cover up to 60% of the whole area. The population size and structure of grey wolves are influenced by both natural factors, such as mountain ranges isolation and dispersal, and anthropogenic influences, such as population fragmentation caused by linear infrastructure and increased mortality from traffic collisions. Additionally, the annual culling quotas for grey wolves have had an impact on their populations until recently. Mainly a non-invasive genetics approach utilizing selected 10 nuclear microsatellite markers, a marker for sex detection and mitochondrial sequences was used. Firstly, the species determination was verified and data quality filtering was carried out under statistical control. The sex ratio of the examined sample was 1:1,3. Mitochondrial data were assigned to haplotypes to help infer population origin. Bayesian clustering analysis of microsatellite data using the STRUCTURE program was used to...
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Molecular demography of brown bear in the Western Carpathians
Tkáčová, Nikola ; Hulva, Pavel (advisor) ; Tkadlec, Emil (referee)
Reliable estimates of population size are an essential tool for effective species conservation and management. The aim of this master thesis was to estimate the census population size and describe genetic variability and structure of the brown bear (Ursus arctos) using non-invasive genetics in Slovakia, which includes the majority of the West Carpathian population. A total of 2,172 samples were obtained during 2019-2021. The majority of the samples were non-invasive, mainly stool samples, which were complemented with tissue samples from roadkills or legally culled animals. Subsequently, DNA was purified and 12 microsatellite loci and the SRY sex marker were amplified. 1036 genotypes were successfully determined, of which 632 were unique. The Slovak population of bears posses a relatively high genetic diversity and similar values of heterozygosity as populations in areas with good state of conservation and relatively intact landscape. Based on Bayesian clustering analysis, population was divided into four clusters, with a certain level of gene flow. Only one cluster was detected in the eastern part of Slovakia (Eastern Carpathians). In the central part of Slovakia (Western Carpathians) all clusters were represented. Observed male to female ratio was 1.006. In males, a higher recapture rate was...
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Non-invasive conservation genetics of ursids
Šrutová, Jana ; Hulva, Pavel (advisor) ; Hájková, Petra (referee)
This bachelor thesis is devoted to non-invasive genetics and molecular ecology of particular species of ursids(family Ursidae). This carnivore lineage is quite diversified, particular species inhabit different environments from arctic regions to tropical rainforests and they also differ in trophic niches. As remnants of megafaunal communities that occupy important positions in ecological networks, they are often referred as keystone, umbrella and flagship species which are important in conservation biology. During the Anthropocene, the existence of particular species of Ursidae is more or less influenced by human activities or their impacts. Although nature conservation has managed to stabilize the abundance of some species, habitat loss and human- bear conflicts are becoming more frequent as a consequence of the expanding human population. The aim of the work was to review the research of population structure and demography especially using non-invasive genetic techniques in particular species with intention to implement the acquired knowledge into brown bear research in the Western Carpathians in the future. The chapter about non-invasive sampling is focused to this model species. Non-invasive genetics is important tool for research especially in large, rare, highly mobile and elusive species and...
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