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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Ecology and Evolution

Urbanisation Leaves a Genetic Signature but No Detectable Demographic Effects in a Small Mammal Population

  • Sinah Drenske1,2
  • Conny Landgraf1
  • Alina Theresa Berger1,2
  • Alina Doreen Stemmer1,3
  • Aimara Planillo1,4
  • Johanna Leona Eul1,5
  • Bianca Wist6
  • Kathleen Röllig1
  • Ashlee Jean Mikkelsen1
  • Melanie Dammhahn7,8
  • Jörns Fickel1,9
  • Stephanie Kramer‐Schadt1,2
9 affiliations
  1. 1Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) Berlin Germany
  2. 2Institute of Ecology, Chair of Applied Animal Ecology Technische Universität Berlin Berlin Germany
  3. 3Department of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy Freie Universität Berlin Berlin Germany
  4. 4Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD) Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) Seville Spain
  5. 5Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, Animal Ecology University of Potsdam Potsdam Germany
  6. 6Functional Ecology, Institute of Cell and Systems Biology of Animals Universität Hamburg Hamburg Germany
  7. 7Behavioural Biology, Institute for Neuro‐ and Behavioural Biology (INVB) University of Münster Münster Germany
  8. 8Joint Institute for Individualisation in a Changing Environment (JICE) University of Münster and Bielefeld University Münster Germany
  9. 9Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, Molecular Ecology and Evolution University of Potsdam Potsdam Germany
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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.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{drenske2026urbanisation,
  title = {{Urbanisation Leaves a Genetic Signature but No Detectable Demographic Effects in a Small Mammal Population}},
  author = {Sinah Drenske and Conny Landgraf and Alina Theresa Berger and Alina Doreen Stemmer and Aimara Planillo and Johanna Leona Eul and Bianca Wist and Kathleen Röllig and Ashlee Jean Mikkelsen and Melanie Dammhahn and Jörns Fickel and Stephanie Kramer‐Schadt},
  journal = {Ecology and Evolution},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1002/ece3.74273},
  url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.74273},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Urbanisation Leaves a Genetic Signature but No Detectable Demographic Effects in a Small Mammal Population
AU  - Sinah Drenske
AU  - Conny Landgraf
AU  - Alina Theresa Berger
AU  - Alina Doreen Stemmer
AU  - Aimara Planillo
AU  - Johanna Leona Eul
AU  - Bianca Wist
AU  - Kathleen Röllig
AU  - Ashlee Jean Mikkelsen
AU  - Melanie Dammhahn
AU  - Jörns Fickel
AU  - Stephanie Kramer‐Schadt
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/05
JO  - Ecology and Evolution
DO  - 10.1002/ece3.74273
UR  - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.74273
AB  - 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.
SN  - 2045-7758
SN  - 2045-7758
ER  -