{
  "abstract": "Urbanisation influences ecological and evolutionary processes, including gene flow and survival. Understanding how genetic and demographic rates respond to urbanisation is therefore essential for predicting and managing wildlife viability in human‐dominated landscapes. We tested whether population genetic diversity, genetic structure, and apparent survival of Eurasian red squirrels ( Sciurus vulgaris ) vary in concert along an urbanisation gradient. We combined a multi‐year capture–mark–recapture study with microsatellite‐based population genetic analyses at three sites in Berlin, Germany, representing increasing levels of urbanisation. Genetic diversity was broadly comparable among sites, indicating no strong genetic erosion in urban populations. However, weak heterozygote deficits and subtle differences in individual heterozygosity suggest mild restrictions to gene flow along the urban gradient. Bayesian clustering analyses identified two genetic clusters, broadly corresponding to study sites, revealing emerging fine‐scale population structure despite the small spatial extent of the study area. Apparent survival did not differ clearly among sites. Several predictors received similar support, highlighting substantial uncertainty in the drivers of survival in this system. By integrating genetic and demographic data, our study suggests that fine‐scale genetic structuring may emerge before detectable effects on apparent survival become evident. These findings highlight that genetic and demographic responses to urbanisation may occur on different timescales and emphasise the importance of integrated approaches for understanding population responses in human‐modified environments.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) Berlin Germany",
    "Institute of Ecology, Chair of Applied Animal Ecology Technische Universität Berlin Berlin Germany",
    "Department of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy Freie Universität Berlin Berlin Germany",
    "Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD) Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) Seville Spain",
    "Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, Animal Ecology University of Potsdam Potsdam Germany",
    "Functional Ecology, Institute of Cell and Systems Biology of Animals Universität Hamburg Hamburg Germany",
    "Behavioural Biology, Institute for Neuro‐ and Behavioural Biology (INVB) University of Münster Münster Germany",
    "Joint Institute for Individualisation in a Changing Environment (JICE) University of Münster and Bielefeld University Münster Germany",
    "Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, Molecular Ecology and Evolution University of Potsdam Potsdam Germany"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 12,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Sinah Drenske",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-2247-6507"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Conny Landgraf"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Alina Theresa Berger"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Alina Doreen Stemmer"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Aimara Planillo",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-6763-9923"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        4
      ],
      "name": "Johanna Leona Eul",
      "orcid": "0009-0008-1754-8538"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Bianca Wist",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-6616-6298"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Kathleen Röllig"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Ashlee Jean Mikkelsen",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-1620-7711"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6,
        7
      ],
      "name": "Melanie Dammhahn",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-0557-740X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        8
      ],
      "name": "Jörns Fickel",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-0593-5820"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Stephanie Kramer‐Schadt",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-9269-4446"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9bg7kswq2jzb6.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1002/ece3.74273",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "9bg7kswq2jzb6",
  "issns": [
    "2045-7758",
    "2045-7758"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.74273",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "1311|Genetic diversity and population structure"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7220676023",
  "pdf_url": "https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ece3.74273",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-05",
  "publisher": "Wiley",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9bg7kswq2jzb6.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:10Z",
      "native_id": "10.1002/ece3.74273",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.74273"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "openalex:1311|Genetic diversity and population structure",
      "subfield": "genetics-genomics"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Urbanisation Leaves a Genetic Signature but No Detectable Demographic Effects in a Small Mammal Population",
  "title_text": "Urbanisation Leaves a Genetic Signature but No Detectable Demographic Effects in a Small Mammal Population",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:19:10Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9bg7kswq2jzb6",
  "venue": "Ecology and Evolution",
  "versions": []
}