Presentation Type
Poster
Faculty Mentor’s Full Name
Mark Hebblewhite
Faculty Mentor’s Department
Wildlife Biology
Abstract / Artist's Statement
Wolverines (Gulo gulo) are a rare species of conservation concern that inhabit high-elevation montane climates in North America. Because of their remote habitat and rarity, wolverines are difficult to monitor and there is limited information on the population status of wolverines. Scientists are concerned that wolverines may be adversely affected by climate change as they rely on persistent spring snowpack, which increases the need for effective wolverine monitoring. Wolverines in the Bitterroot National Forest (BNF) were monitored for six years (2014-2020) with noninvasive genetic sampling via hair snag and individual identification via remote camera trap, which allowed for the identification of 27 genetically unique wolverines. Identified wolverines were genotyped at 20 microsatellite loci which were analyzed with the software Cervus for genetic relatedness. Potential first-order relationships (parent-offspring or siblings) were identified via exclusion of genetically mismatched candidates, which were used to construct potential family groups and relationships. Individuals detected at more than two locations were fitted with minimum convex polygons estimating their home range extent using the R package adehabitatHR. Potential relationships revealed two distinct subgroups (of 8 and 14 individuals) connected by no potential relationships that correspond to generally different spatial areas. The combination of familial relationships and spatial patterns illustrates the connections between individual wolverines and related groups on the landscape. This research provides important information describing the population status of wolverines in western Montana, which will inform decisions about the conservation of wolverines and provide an improved baseline status for future monitoring. Additionally, integration of genetic and spatial data for wolverines presents a novel approach to monitoring other rare and remote species that may yield a wealth of powerful information about their populations.
Category
Life Sciences
Improving Population Monitoring of Wolverines by Integrating Noninvasive Genetic Monitoring and Remote Camera Trapping
Wolverines (Gulo gulo) are a rare species of conservation concern that inhabit high-elevation montane climates in North America. Because of their remote habitat and rarity, wolverines are difficult to monitor and there is limited information on the population status of wolverines. Scientists are concerned that wolverines may be adversely affected by climate change as they rely on persistent spring snowpack, which increases the need for effective wolverine monitoring. Wolverines in the Bitterroot National Forest (BNF) were monitored for six years (2014-2020) with noninvasive genetic sampling via hair snag and individual identification via remote camera trap, which allowed for the identification of 27 genetically unique wolverines. Identified wolverines were genotyped at 20 microsatellite loci which were analyzed with the software Cervus for genetic relatedness. Potential first-order relationships (parent-offspring or siblings) were identified via exclusion of genetically mismatched candidates, which were used to construct potential family groups and relationships. Individuals detected at more than two locations were fitted with minimum convex polygons estimating their home range extent using the R package adehabitatHR. Potential relationships revealed two distinct subgroups (of 8 and 14 individuals) connected by no potential relationships that correspond to generally different spatial areas. The combination of familial relationships and spatial patterns illustrates the connections between individual wolverines and related groups on the landscape. This research provides important information describing the population status of wolverines in western Montana, which will inform decisions about the conservation of wolverines and provide an improved baseline status for future monitoring. Additionally, integration of genetic and spatial data for wolverines presents a novel approach to monitoring other rare and remote species that may yield a wealth of powerful information about their populations.