Population genetic structure of European wildcats inhabiting the area between the Dinaric Alps and the Scardo-Pindic mountains

Felicita Urzi,Andrea Rezić,Luka Duniš,Dean Konjević,Hubert Potočnik,Nikica Šprem,Dime Melovski,Duško Ćirović,Elena Buzan,Magda Sindičić

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-97401-5

Abstract

Habitat fragmentation and loss have contributed significantly to the demographic decline of European wildcat populations and hybridization with domestic cats poses a threat to the loss of genetic purity of the species. In this study we used microsatellite markers to analyse genetic variation and structure of the wildcat populations from the area between the Dinaric Alps and the Scardo-Pindic mountains in Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and North Macedonia. We also investigated hybridisation between populations of wildcats and domestic cats in the area. One hundred and thirteen samples from free-leaving European wildcats and thirty-two samples from domestic cats were analysed. Allelic richness across populations ranged from 3.61 to 3.98. The observed Ho values ranged between 0.57 and 0.71. The global FST value for the four populations was 0.080 (95% CI 0.056–0.109) and differed significantly from zero (P < 0.001). The highest FST value was observed between the populations North Macedonia and Slovenia and the lowest between Slovenia and Croatia. We also found a signal for the existence of isolation by distance between populations. Our results showed that wildcats are divided in two genetic clusters largely consistent with a geographic division into a genetically diverse northern group (Slovenia, Croatia) and genetically eroded south-eastern group (Serbia, N. Macedonia). Hybridisation rate between wildcats and domestic cats varied between 13% and 52% across the regions.

Highlights

Habitat fragmentation and loss have contributed significantly to the demographic decline of European wildcat populations and hybridization with domestic cats poses a threat to the loss of genetic purity of the species
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), categorized wildcat as “Least Concern”, since it has been evaluated together with Felis lybica species distributed over vast regions of Asia and Africa, and without considering the demographic decline and fragmentation of European wildcat populations[4]
In this study we used microsatellite markers to analyse genetic variation and structure of the wildcat populations from north-western Dinaric Alps to the Scardo-Pindic mountain system. Regardless they probably originate from the same Pleistocene refugium, we investigated whether geographical isolation is reflected in the genetic structure of wildcat populations

Summary

Introduction

Habitat fragmentation and loss have contributed significantly to the demographic decline of European wildcat populations and hybridization with domestic cats poses a threat to the loss of genetic purity of the species. The highest FST value was observed between the populations North Macedonia and Slovenia and the lowest between Slovenia and Croatia. Transport networks, urban areas as well as agricultural landscapes divide natural habitats into small isolated patches and create barriers that restrict gene flow and leads to a hidden genetic structure within the European wildcat populations[4,6,7,8]. Identifying areas with different levels of the domestic cat gene introgression in European wildcat populations could help recognizing factors that have facilitated introgression rates in the past and/or that currently hinder or accelerate hybridisation. Since the level of hybridisation appears to be low in some regions and high in others, it is likely that other factors, such as differences in habitat structure and behaviour, have played a role in reducing hybridisation[9]

Methods

Results

Conclusion