Genetic analysis of sable (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Martes zibellina</Emphasis>) and pine marten (<Emphasis Type="Italic">M. martes</Emphasis>) populations in sympatric part of distribution area in the northern Urals

Analysis of nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region (495 bp) of sables (Martes zibellina) and pine martens (M. martes) from allopatric parts of the species ranges has shown a considerable interspecific genetic distance (>3%). In sympatric populations of these species in the northern Urals, differences between two species-specific mtDNA lineages are still large; however, classification of each individual nucleotide sequence with one of the two lineages is not correlated with whether the given animal is phenotypically a sable, a pine marten, or a potential hybrid (the so-called “kidas”). This indicates a high degree of reciprocal introgression of the sable and pine marten mtDNA in the northern Urals and suggests that their interspecific hybridization is common in the sympatric zone.     

A PCR-RFLP-based method to distinguish sable (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Martes zibellina</Emphasis>) and pine marten (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Martes martes</Emphasis>)

Species identification is an important issue in conservation and a particular focus for wildlife forensics. Molecular biological methods retain a unique power to differentiate between difficult samples that lack other identifiable characteristics. The pine marten (Martes martes) and sable (Martes zibellina) are closely related species with very similar pelage characteristics and are often difficult to distinguish from each other. The sable, however, in contrast to the pine marten, remains an endangered and protected animal in China with both hunting and fur trade strictly prohibited for this species. Here, we present a polymerase chain reaction-based restriction fragment length polymorphism method for distinguishing the two species. We sequenced a 638-bp fragment of cytochrome b gene in 39 sables, 68 pine martens, and 10 stone martens and identified all variable nucleotides. A new primer pair was subsequently designed to amplify a 316-bp fragment containing restriction sites of enzyme BseG I and BamH I that are different among martens. When the fragment was cut using BseG I, the resulting restriction pattern was identical in the sable and pine marten, but differed from all other martens. When cut using BamH I, the fragment generated two diagnostic fragments in the sable which could distinguish them from pine martens. This method was valid for all haplotypes of sable and pine marten thus far identified and has high potentially applicability for the identification of the two species.     

Species-Specific Structure of the Frontal Part of the Skull in the Sable (Martes zibellina) and the European Pine Marten (Martes martes)

Biology Bulletin - Comparative analysis of three craniometric traits that characterize the length-to-width ratios in the frontal surface of the skull in the sable and the pine marten was performed....     

On the ratio of phenotype and genotype of sable and pine marten in sympatry zone in the Northern Urals

Analysis of allele frequencies of nine nuclear DNA microsatellite loci in the sable (Martes zibellina) and pine marten (M. martes) demonstrated that these species from allopatric parts of the area differ with a high degree of significance, while hybridization regularly occurs between them in the sympatry zone in the Northern Urals. In total, populations of the sable and pine marten maintain genetic isolation in the sympatry area; however, individual phenotypes do not always correlate with their specific (or hybrid) belonging, which is determined by a genetic method.     

A comparative analysis of craniological variability of Eurasian (sable and pine marten) and North American (American marten) species of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Martes</Emphasis> genus

This paper studies the craniological variability of closely related species—the pine marten Martes martes, the American marten M. americana, and the sable M. zibellina. The study included the data on 22 nonmetric characters of skulls in 2344 individuals. The studied Martes species were revealed to have an evident species-specific manifestation of the investigated craniological characters. Sables stand apart most of all in the interspecific comparison of populations. The degree of epigenetic variability is somewhat higher in the sable than in the pine marten. The American marten significantly differs from Eurasian species in the manifestation of the nonmetric skull characters, which is noted when analyzing even a small number of samples.     

The geographic ranges of Martes species (Carnivora,Mustelidae) in the Middle Urals in the Late Pleistocene and Holocene

Martes mandibles from Late Pleistocene and Holocene sites in the Middle Urals were identified to the species level using discriminant analysis. As has been shown, sable lived there in the Late Pleistocene, with its geographic range covering all this area until the end of the 18th century; however, its range started to reduce towards the north and northeast in the early 19th century. Over 150 years, the southwestern boundary of the sable range shifted by 3° to reach the current position by the mid-20th century. The pine marten appeared in the Middle Urals in the Holocene no later than 8000 years ago and inhabits this territory at present.     

Isoenzyme spectra of lactate dehydrogenase in tissues of mammals of the Mustelidae family

A comparative analysis of distribution of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isoenzymes in the heart, kidneys, lungs, spleen, liver and skeletal muscle was performed in 4 species of carnivorous mammals (Mustelidae family): American mink (Mustela vison Schr.), polecat (Mustela putorius L.), sable (Martes zibellina L.) and pine marten (Martes martes L.). It was found that in the mink, unlike pure terrestrial mustelids (polecat, sable, pine marten), the anaerobic LDH-5 fraction was predominant in the LDH isoenzyme spectrum in the liver, skeletal muscle, lungs and spleen. In all species studied, aerobic B(H) subunits of LDH were found to prevail in the heart and kidney, whereas anaerobic A(M) subunits prevailed in the liver and spleen. The tissue- and species-specific features of LDH isoenzyme spectra revealed in different mustelids reflect the biochemical adaptation of the animals to environmental conditions.     

On Certain Properties of Water and Energy Metabolism in Representatives of Martes and Mustela Genera (Mammalia: Mustelidae)

The quantities of consumed food and water, quantity and moisture contents of faeces as well as quantity and concentration of excreted urine were determined in representatives of Martes—European pine marten (M. martes) and sable (M. zibellina)—as well as in polecat (Mustela putorius). Under the same cage conditions and free access to food, all three species have similar energy value of their daily diet. However, the level of drinking water consumption and the ratio between the daily total water and energy intake was reliably higher in both Martes species than in polecat. In addition, both marten and sable featured much higher rate of evaporation loss in the overall water balance and, consequently, a higher quantity of heat dissipated with evaporation as compared to polecat. Comparison of the obtained and previous data (Sokolov et al., 1995; Rozhnov, 1991) allowed us to propose that the mentioned differences are specific for representatives of Martes and Mustela genera irrespective of ecological specialization of particular species.     

Range expansion of the pine marten (Martes martes) in an agricultural landscape matrix (NW Italy)

Habitat segregation is considered to favour the coexistence of sympatric pine martens Martes martes and stone martens M. foina, the latter being displaced to agricultural and urbanised areas. Subsequent to the report of pine martens in cultivated areas of the western River Po plain (NW Italy), we reviewed all available information on the presence of this species in plain areas of northern Italy and, for two study areas, applied a non-invasive PCR-RFLP method for the identification of Martes species from faecal mtDNA.A total of 24 pine marten records were collected, grouped in the western part of the River Po plain. The number of records showed an exponential increase from 1988 to 2007, the percentage of woods in a 10 km² wide circular plot surrounding the location of records being inversely correlated to its distance from the 300 m a.s.l. contour line. In the two study areas, 36 out of 119 “marten-like” faeces were assigned to the pine marten, whilst none belonged to the stone marten. In the best monitored area, the pine marten was present almost constantly.Our results suggest that the pine marten is expanding its range to include cultivated areas which were previously considered a prerogative of the more synanthropic stone marten.     

Population crash in an invasive species following the recovery of a native predator: the case of the American grey squirrel and the European pine marten in Ireland

In Ireland, the UK and Italy, the invasive North American grey squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis, threatens the survival of the Eurasian red squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris, as the effects of competition and disease almost inevitably lead to total replacement of red squirrel populations. However the results of a recent national squirrel survey suggested that the normally invasive grey squirrel had gone into decline in the Irish midlands, which was anecdotally attributed to an increase in European pine marten, Martes martes, range and numbers. This study aimed to quantify changes in squirrel distribution in Ireland and to investigate the role, if any, of the pine marten in red and grey squirrel population dynamics. A distribution survey of the midlands was carried out which confirmed the grey squirrel population has crashed in approximately 9,000 km² of its former range and the red squirrel is common after an absence of up to 30 years. At landscape level, pine marten and red squirrel abundance were positively correlated, whereas a strong negative correlation between pine marten and grey squirrel presence at woodland level was found to exist. Squirrel demographics were determined by means of live trapping programs which confirmed that the red squirrel in the midlands is now in competitive release and the grey squirrel is present at unusually low density. This study provides the first evidence of a regional grey squirrel population crash and suggests that European pine marten abundance may be a critical factor in the American grey squirrel’s success or failure as an invasive species.     

The genetic diversity of burbot (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lota lota</Emphasis> L., 1758) of Western Siberia (the analysis of the mtDNA control region polymorphism)

The genetic variability of burbot (Lota lota L., 1758) inhabiting the Ob-Irtysh and Taz river basins in Western Siberia has been studied based on the polymorphism of the hypervariable fragment of mtDNA control region (407 bp). The analysis of 134 fish samples revealed 30 haplotypes, 23 of which were new. Among haplotypes, previously detected in Eurasia and North America, EB30 was the most frequently found in Western Siberia (45.5% frequency). The results of our study are in agreement with previous research pointing to the genetic differentiation of two burbot subspecies, L. l. lota and L. l. maculosa, and indicate that burbot inhabiting the Ob-Irtysh and Taz river basins belong to the Eurasian-Beringian clade (nominative subspecies L. l. lota). However, a high genetic diversity of burbot in Western Siberia, along with a relatively high differentiation of burbot groups within studied territory, points to a regional specificity of burbot population.     

Topological conflicts in phylogenetic analysis of different regions of the sable ( Martes zibellina L.) mitochondrial genome

Phylogenetic analysis of different regions of the mitochondrial genome of the sable showed the presence of several topologies of phylogenetic trees, but the most statistically significant topology is A-BC, which was obtained as a result of the analysis of the mitochondrial genome as a whole, as well as of the individual CO1, ND4, and ND5 genes. Analysis of the intergroup divergence of the mtDNA haplotypes (D xy) indicated that the maximum D xy values between A and BC groups were accompanied by minimum differences between B and C groups only for six genes showing the A-BC topology (12S rRNA, CO1, CO2, ND4, ND5, and CYTB). It is assumed that the topological conflicts observed in the analysis of individual sable mtDNA genes are associated with the uneven distribution of mutations along the mitochondrial genome and the mitochondrial tree. This may be due to random causes, as well as the nonuniform effect of selection.     

Spring and summer food habits and habitat use of the Europena pine marten (Martes martes) on the island of Micorca, Spain

The food habits and habitat use of pine marten ( Martes martes L.) on the Balearic Island of Mincorca were studied from March-August 1990. In a 28.2 km² area, a series of hiking trails/forest roads were used to collect pine marten faeces bi-monthly and study te species' differential use of habitats. A total of 28 different food items were identified in 723 faeces. Small mammals were the most important food overall, constituting 34% of the volume During March-April, small mammals were the principal food consumed (63% of volume), followed by birds (19%). In May-June, birds were the main food (40%), then small mammals. Plant material and insects were the most important foods in July-August, both made up 68% of the pine marten diet. The abundance of certain foods and the degree of difficulty in obtaining them appear to be important factors that govern pine marten food selection in Minorca. Habitat use was studied along 12 routes totalling 32.6 km. Pine marten showed preference in March-April for Coastal Shrubland habitat, while during May-June they were found most in the Upland Pine type. During July-August, the Upland Pine and Open Pine habitats were most frequented by pine marten. According to bimonthly food habits data, habitat use seems largely determined by the abundance and availability of their prey items in the available habitat types. Martens may concentrate hunting efforts in areas different from when they are not hunting. The Minorcan pine marten differs from continental populations in its wide use of shrublands, in addition to forests.     

A non-invasive approach to determining pine marten abundance and predation

A non-invasive approach was used to investigate variation in pine marten (Martes martes) abundance between the midlands and east of Ireland, and to determine the frequency of occurrence of squirrels and other small mammals in the diet. Remotely plucked hair samples were genotyped to differentiate between individual animals, and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to identify predator and prey DNA in scats. Macro analysis of prey remains was carried out on a sub sample of scats and the results from both methods are compared. Non-invasive techniques were successful in determining the presence and relative abundance of the pine marten at woodland level. As expected, abundance was found to be higher in the core population of the midlands than in the east. Pine martens were found to reach higher numbers per km² of forested habitat in Ireland than their British or European counterparts. Both traditional hard part analysis and molecular dietary analysis of mammalian prey yielded similar results. We provide the first evidence of the European pine marten predating upon the North American grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) in its invasive range. While the grey squirrel was not available as a prey item in any of the midlands sites, it was available in the east, where it featured significantly more frequently in the diet than the native red squirrel. In both the midlands and the east the woodmouse is the most frequently occurring mammal in the diet.     

Food habits of genetically identified pine marten (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Martes martes</Emphasis>) expanding in agricultural lowlands (NW Italy)

We assessed the diet of pine marten (Martes martes) expanding in the heavily human-altered agricultural plain of the River Po, northern Italy. Between February 2008 and November 2009, surveys were carried out twice a week during seasonal sampling sessions of three to four consecutive weeks. To distinguish the faecal samples from those of sympatric carnivores, a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method was applied. The availability of small mammals was assessed by the analysis of 59 barn owl (Tyto alba) pellets. A total of 109 pine marten faeces were analysed. Its diet consisted of fruit, rodents, lagomorphs and birds. Seasonal variation occurred for fruit, which prevailed in summer, and rodents, which were more preyed upon in autumn. In winter, the diet of the pine marten was almost totally based on vertebrates, and lagomorphs were the main source of protein in summer. Use of small mammals differed significantly from their availability, voles, particularly bank vole Myodes glareolus, being preferred to mice (Apodemus sp.) and rats (Rattus sp.). Medium-size mammals formed about 18% of pine marten diet, a value generally reported for high-latitude habitats. In agricultural areas, the pine marten proved to be an opportunistic predator, able to face the reduced availability of small mammals by preying upon medium-size prey and fruit.     

Genetic structure of the sable Martes zibellina L. populations from magadan oblast as inferred from mitochondrial DNA variation

Restriction polymorphism of the mtDNA cytochrome b gene was studied in nine sable Martes zibellina L. populations from three introduction foci of Khabarovsk and Kamchatka sables in Magadan oblast: Olya, Kolyma, and Omolon. For comparison, similar studies were performed with the populations of central Kamchatka and Khabarovsk krai. In total, 444 DNA specimens were examined. Three mtDNA haplotypes (A, B, and C) proved to occur at various frequencies in the populations under study. The sable population system displayed high differentiation (FST = 22.3%). The populations of the Olya focus were most similar genetically to the populations of Kamchatka; those of the Omolon focus were similar to the Khabarovsk populations, and those of the Kolyma focus occupied an intermediate place. The observed spatial heterogeneity of the sable populations of Magadan oblast was explained in terms of the formation of the introduction foci of Kamchatka and Khabarovsk sables, starting from the 1950s.     

Fur snagging as a method of evaluating the presence and abundance of a small carnivore, the pine marten (Martes martes)

The pine marten Martes martes was once considered one of Ireland's rarest carnivores, but is now recolonizing many of the areas where it was once extirpated. It is important to monitor its population expansion so that conservation management decisions can be made regarding the status of this species. In this study, we investigate the use of fur snagging devices as a method of estimating pine marten presence and abundance in lowland and upland broadleaf woodland. We investigated whether these devices reliably detected presence, and how quickly. It was found that hair traps functioned very well in detecting pine martens on all survey transects and was essential in their detection in the most isolated site. A survey length of 6 days was sufficient to detect pine marten in all survey sites, with most detections occurring within the first 4 days. The hair traps functioned equally well as scat location for detecting pine marten and had the added advantage of there being no confusion as to the origin of the sample. Live trapping was used to verify the estimates of relative abundance from hair traps. There was a trend for the number of hair samples per site and the number of times animals were trapped per site to be positively correlated, although this was not significant. Hair traps do provide a real alternative for the monitoring of pine martens in both lowland and upland broadleaf woodlands, overcoming many of the disadvantages associated with scat location.     

Far from the madding crowd: Tolerance toward human disturbance shapes distribution and connectivity patterns of closely related Martes spp.

To assess niche overlap between the most similar European sympatric carnivores, the pine marten Martes martes and stone marten Martes foina, and outline their potential distributions and connectivity corridors in Central Italy, we applied a multivariate kernel density procedure which allowed to assess both species' ecological hypervolumes based on a set of 16 environmental predictors and used the resulting probability of occurrence map as a resistance surface in electrical circuit theory-based models. Distance to watercourses and percent cover of deciduous forest and shrubland were the most relevant factors shaping pine marten ecological niche, while stone marten distribution was mainly shaped by human population density and cover of both human settlements and deciduous forest. Overlap between the hypervolumes of the two martens was low-to-moderate, while, on average, landscape connectivity was higher for the stone marten. The inclusion in the models of human disturbance-related variables enabled to define a possible mechanism driving habitat partitioning in human-altered landscapes. Based on our results, increasing human density and urbanization of European lowland and hilly landscapes are expected to represent a greater threat to the pine marten than the stone marten.     

Non-invasively determined multi-site variation in pine marten <Emphasis Type="Italic">Martes martes</Emphasis> density,a recovering carnivore in Europe

Pine martens (Martes martes) are subject to national and international conservation legislation throughout most of their European range. Yet population density and abundance estimates, which are a key component of effective conservation management, are lacking in many countries. In this study, a large-scale non-invasive survey was undertaken in 14 forested study sites throughout Ireland to assess variation in pine marten density and abundance. Pine marten hair samples were collected in each study site and analysed using genetic techniques to determine individual identity data. Density and abundance estimates were obtained using spatially explicit capture-recapture models and CAPWIRE. Across all study sites, a total of 93 individual pine marten were identified and captured 217 times. Estimated pine marten density varied from 0 to 2.60 individuals per km² of forested habitat, with all but a single site having estimated densities of ≤1 pine marten per km² of forest habitat. Mean population abundance estimates across all study sites ranged from 0 to 27 individuals. Spatially explicit capture-recapture models on combined data across all 14 study sites provided a mean density estimate of 0.64 (95% CI 0.49–0.81). Combining this with data on the current distribution and estimated area of forest habitat occupied by the species in Ireland, the total pine marten population abundance of pine marten in Ireland was estimated at 3043 (95% CI 2330–3852) individuals. This research has conducted the largest scale investigation of pine marten density and abundance in any part of its global distribution and provided an improved basis for future population assessment and monitoring of this species.