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Yu, H, 2024. Conservation and population genetics of British hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus). PhD, Nottingham Trent University.
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Abstract
Population declines of common species constitute an important part of ongoing biodiversity loss. The ability to detect and preserve declining wildlife populations is paramount, but this is challenging for species that exist over large geographic ranges. The Western European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) (hereafter termed hedgehog) is declining throughout its range with multiple potential causes suggested. This thesis aims to identify hedgehog population structure in Great Britain; infer demography, genetic diversity, and gene flow; and investigate factors driving population change. A combination of field studies, laboratory experiments, modelling, landscape genetics, and population genomic analysis was employed in an attempt to identify population structure at different spatial scales.
An 11-year spatial capture-recapture (SCR) dataset involving 207 hedgehogs was used to analyse survival and density at a rural site (Brackenhurst) in Nottinghamshire (Chapter 2, Chapter 3). Annual survival was relatively stable over the 11 search years. Annual apparent survival rates were 0.530 (95 CI 0.423–0.635), and 0.426 (95 CI 0.308–0.552) for adult females, and adult males, respectively. Survival during winter hibernation period was suggested to be high compared to that in active seasons. Annual population density averaged 14 hedgehogs/km2 , with adult female: juvenile female: juvenile male: adult male density ratios being 1.6: 1.5: 1.1: 1, respectively. Density on amenity: pasture: arable approximates to 10: 4: 1. These results are comparable to previous results. Density was found to be significantly positively associated with soil permeability, edge density, proximity to the nearest building, and distance to the nearest badger (Meles meles; intra-guild predator of hedgehog) sett. A new badger sett was identified halfway through the study period, resulting in a shift in the hedgehog density-weighted population centre, and a decline in overall density which was then stabilised, suggesting spatial segregation on the field scale, due to the landscape of fear response of hedgehogs to badgers, and coexistence on the landscape scale of both species.
Using genetic data genotyped with 14 microsatellite loci, contemporary gene flow among four neighbouring suburban populations (Farnsfield, Halam, Kirklington, Southwell) in Nottinghamshire separated by an agricultural landscape was evidenced based on a lack of genetic structure differentiating the populations (n = 236 hedgehogs; Chapter 4). Higher relatedness and lower allelic richness were found in smaller suburban patches, potentially indicating an early stage of the establishment of different population structures due to a current lack of resources in rural habitats and the distance between urban areas that represent population centres.
Whole-genome analyses of 123 hedgehogs evenly sampled across Great Britain were used to infer population history, population structure, and genetic diversity of the hedgehogs (Chapter 5). Natural post-glacial colonisation of the hedgehog in Britain was supported, and a generally continuous genomic pattern was found, suggesting all present-day hedgehogs descend from the same post-glacial ancestral population. Individual heterozygosity was high in the south and decreased with latitude following the historical expansion routes. No evident differentiation was found to correspond to the presumed barriers, e.g., rivers, mountains, agricultural lands, city centres, and roads, revealing continuous gene flow on large scales. Limited evidence of severe inbreeding due to fragmentation was found, other than in some island populations. The recent population decline was found to have started a few centuries ago, likely coinciding with agricultural intensification.
The results from this study provide a baseline for future research and conservation of the hedgehog. As a model species in agroecosystems for informing habitat connectivity and quality, the results provided for the hedgehog have wider conservation implications. The study highlights the importance of understanding broad-scale genetic structure for the interpretation of local population patterns for hedgehogs and other common species, and proposes using whole-genome sequencing, with even-geographic sampling.
| Item Type: | Thesis |
|---|---|
| Creators: | Yu, H. |
| Contributors: | Name Role NTU ID ORCID |
| Date: | September 2024 |
| Rights: | This work is the intellectual property of the author. You may copy up to 5% of this work for private study, or personal, non-commercial research. Any re-use of the information contained within this document should be fully referenced, quoting the author, title, university, degree level and pagination. Queries or requests for any other use, or if a more substantial copy is required, should be directed in the owner(s) of the Intellectual Property Rights. |
| Divisions: | Schools > School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences |
| Record created by: | Jeremy Silvester |
| Date Added: | 26 Jun 2025 15:57 |
| Last Modified: | 26 Jun 2025 15:57 |
| URI: | https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/53824 |
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