Biology subjects

Kusak, J.

Publications and source records attributed to Kusak, J..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Misleading Success: Genomes Reveal Critical Risks to European Gray Wolves

Have European gray wolves recovered? Despite an increase to [~]21,000 wolves (Canis lupus), our genomic analyses reveal significant risks to their long-term viability. We analyzed over 200 whole-genomes spanning five major European populations. Rather than a single recovering population, European wolves form a mosaic of isolated, independently evolving lineages, mostly diverging in the late Pleistocene. All lineages have contemporary effective population sizes below the threshold for long-term viability (Ne [≥] 500) and show extensive inbreeding. Runs of homozygosity reveal population-specific inbreeding histories spanning recent to deep timeframes. Most lineages exhibit higher realized than masked genetic load, indicating emerging inbreeding depression. These findings challenge claims that downlisting European wolves is biologically warranted: none of these populations currently meets thresholds associated with favorable conservation status.

evolutionary biology↗

bioRxiv2026

The population structure and genetic health of European wolves

Once nearly eradicated from Europe, grey wolves (Canis lupus) have recently undergone a remarkable demographic recovery, but their long-term survival remains precarious. By analyzing 1,001 genomes, we uncover a mosaic of distinct evolutionary lineages, not a single recovering population. Northern populations exhibit Asian wolf ancestry, while southern populations preserve ancient Holocene lineages, with dog introgression varying by region. Isolated wolves from the Scandinavian, Italian, and Iberian peninsulas harbored particularly high levels of inbreeding and fixed deleterious mutations. Signatures of genome erosion were widespread across Europe, with many populations falling well short of the minimum size recommended for long-term survival. Our study reveals the complex tapestry of wolf ancestry and variation across Europe, which calls for nuanced, regional conservation plans founded in genetic monitoring.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2023

Human-brown bear conflicts in Turkey are driven by increased human presence around protected areas

Human-wildlife conflict is increasing steadily worldwide and is rapidly becoming an important challenge for the success of conservation programs. Brown bears, which suffer from reduced habitat suitability and quality globally, frequently conflict with humans. These animals need large home ranges to fulfill their habitat requirements. When space and food are restricted, brown bears frequently shift towards human-dominated landscapes that offer reliable food sources. As a country where most of the landscape and habitats are human-dominated, human-brown bear conflict events (HBCs) are frequent in Turkiye. However, there has been no formal analysis of the nature and scope of these conflicts at the country level. Here, using HBC data from 2017 to 2022, we determined the spatial and temporal dynamics of HBC events and generated a risk probability map based on anthropogenic predictors and geographic profiling, to determine the factors driving HBC across Turkiye. HBC events did not show any annual or seasonal trends but varied considerably across biogeographic regions, with most conflicts occurring along the Black Sea coast and Eastern Anatolia. Sixty percent of all conflicts were due to bear foraging behavior in human settlements while twelve percent were the result of human activity in forests, with 57% of all conflict events resulting in direct injury to either humans or bears. We found that distance to villages, distance to protected areas, distance to farmland and human footprint to be the most important factors contributing to conflict risk. Consequently, 21% of the country was found to be under human-bear conflict risk, with 43% of the risks occurring within a 10 km radius from the centers of protected areas. Our analyses indicate that the high occurrence of HBCs is mainly the result of limited natural areas and resources available to brown bears and the increasing human encroachment in and around core bear habitats.

ecology↗