Research

The population sizes of the large carnivores - brown bear, grey wolf, wolverine, lynx and grey seal - has decreased dramatically during the last century in Finland. Large carnivores have all gone through population bottlenecks and their population sizes are still relatively low in each species. Wolverine and wolf are classified as endangered, and bears as near threatened species in the Red List of Finland. Population bottlenecks and population fragmentation may have decreased genetic variation and evolutionary potential of these species. Formerly there has been gene flow from northeast Russia into the populations of study species. However, the large carnivore populations in Russia are also declining and the amount of contemporary gene flow between the populations is not known. Even though the genetic background of these species is well known in other parts of their distribution area there are no detailed studies of genetic processes in declined large carnivore species in Finland and Russian Karelia.

The objectives of our research are to investigate within and between population genetic variation, effective population sizes, social structure and amount of inbreeding in large carnivores in these areas. In addition we are investigating the association between genetic diversity, gene expression and fitness characters of the studied individuals, and also possibility of adaptive variation in some candidate genes. We are using both autosomal and Y-chromosomal microsatellites, and also mtDNA variation to investigate population structure and maternal and paternal gene flow in these species. Especially the use of non-invasive sampling in monitoring the populations of large carnivores will be evaluated during the study. The results as a whole will have wide application in understanding conservation genetics of threatened large carnivore species, and they may also be applied in conservation genetics of other less well-known organisms.

We are investigating the population genetics and dispersal of some middle-sized and non threatened species (red fox) and invasive alien species (raccoon dog).

For further information on our research contact Jouni Aspi or Minna Ruokonen.

You may also check the species related sites:

Brown Bear (Ursus arctos)

Wolf (Canis lupus)

Wolverine (Gulo gulo)

Lynx (Lynx lynx)

Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)

Raccoon Dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides)

Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus)