Impact of Landscape Management on the Genetic Structure of Red Squirrel Populations

TLDR

Landscape management that alters habitat fragmentation can significantly influence the genetic structure of animal populations, as illustrated by British red squirrels that use stepping‑stone patches to traverse fragmented habitats and the recent planting of a large conifer forest linking northern England and southern Scotland forest fragments. Defragmentation has led to substantial genetic mixing of Scottish and Cumbrian genes in squirrel populations up to 100 km from the new forest, highlighting implications for conservation management in fragmented landscapes.

Abstract

Landscape management practices that alter the degree of habitat fragmentation can significantly affect the genetic structure of animal populations. British red squirrels use “stepping stone” patches of habitat to move considerable distances through a fragmented habitat. Over the past few decades, the planting of a large conifer forest has connected groups of forest fragments in the north of England with those in southern Scotland. This “defragmentation” of the landscape has resulted in substantial genetic mixing of Scottish and Cumbrian genes in squirrel populations up to 100 kilometers from the site of the new forest. These results have implications for the conservation management of animal and plant species in fragmented landscapes such as those found in Britain.