Journal
JOURNAL OF NATURAL HISTORY
Volume 49, Issue 5-8, Pages 393-410Publisher
TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2013.877992
Keywords
brown bear; population status; Greece; non-invasive genetic sampling
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Funding
- DGENV [LIFE09NAT/GR/000333]
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The brown bear (Ursus arctos) in Greece is considered endangered but little is known about the genetic status and the exact size of local populations. Non-invasive genetic sampling was used in this study to investigate the genetic diversity and genetic structure of the brown bear population in the Kastoria region (northwest Macedonia, Greece) and to estimate its population size. Estimation of demographic parameters was based on innovative, well-evaluated methods that can provide estimates from a single sampling session. DNA was extracted from hairs, scat and blood samples and subsequent amplification of 10 microsatellite loci allowed the identification of a minimum number of 75 living bears in the study area while the mark-recapture-based analysis resulted in a point estimation of 219 individuals. Relatively high diversity values, lack of heterozygosity deficiency as well as estimated effective population size, support the Kastoria bear population having good conservation status.
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