Naslov
Skull shape variation in the Apennine brown bear: implications for conservation

Autori
Colangelo, P ; P.Ciucci ; Gomerčić, Tomislav ; Loy, A ; Huber, Đuro

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, ostalo

Izvornik
Program, Abstract and Information 19th International Conference on Bear Research and Management / Butkhuzi, Levan - Tbilisi : International Bear Association, 2010, 134-134

Skup
19th International Conference on Bear Research and Management

Mjesto i datum
Tbilisi, Gruzija, 16.05.2010. - 22.05.2010

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Poster

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
brown bear

Sažetak
Molecular studies highlighted a strong genetic affinity between the remnant and isolated population of the Apennine brown bear (Ursus arctos masricanus) and other west European bear populations1 , 2, even though a recent morphometric study revealed extensive phenotypic diversity of the Apennine population suggesting U. arctos marsicanus is a good candidate for subspecies status. Morphological investigations, especially by revealing unique shape features despite genetic similarities, may complement taxonomic analyses or aid in the identification of Evolutionary Significant Units for conservation. By building upon previous traditional morphological analyses, we hereby adopt geometric morphometries to investigate skull shape differences between the Apennine and other west European bear populations. We hereby apply geometric morphometries to a sample of 65 adult brown bear skulls from four populations (Central Italian Apennines, Alps, Croatia and Bulgaria) by using a set of 20 landmarks along the dorsal line of the skull. Shape variation among populations was investigated by principal component and canonical vanate analyses. Despite the close genetic relationship with other west- European bear populations, U. arctos marsicanus features a significant shape divergence, corroborated previous traditional morphometries findings, and suggest that genetic drift could have greatly accelerated morphological evolution and contributed to the origin of morphological novelties.These preliminary results enphasize the evolutionary distinctiveness of U. arctos marsicanus and underline the importance of morphological analyses as a complementary tool to molecular analyses for a more thorough characterization of population divergence, and hence effective conservation planning.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Biologija, Veterinarska medicina

POVEZANOST RADA