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The practice of restocking already viable populations to increase harvest potential has since long been common in forestry, fisheries and wildlife management. The potential risks of restocking native species have long been overshadowed by the related issue of invasive alien species. However, during the last decade releases of native species with potentially non-native genome have received more attention. A suitable model to study genetic effects of large-scale releases of native species is the Mallard Anas platyrhynchos, being the most widespread duck in the world, largely migratory, and an important quarry species. More than 3 million unfledged hatchlings are released each year around Europe to increase local harvest. The aims of this study were to determine if wild and released farmed Mallards differ genetically, if there are signs of previous or ongoing introgression between wild and farmed birds, and if the genetic structure of the wild Mallard population has changed since large-scale releases started in Europe in the 1970s. Using 360 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) we found that the genetic structure differed among historical wild, present-day wild, and farmed Mallards in Europe. We also found signs of introgression in the wild Mallard population, that is, individuals with a genetic background of farmed stock are part of the present free-living population. Although only a small proportion of the released Mallards appears to survive to merge with the free-living breeding population, their numbers are still so large that the genetic impact may have significance for the wild population in terms of individual survival and longterm fitness.

The practice of restocking already viable populations to improve harvest has since long been common in forestry, fisheries and wildlife management. The potential risks with restocking of native species has for a long time been overshadowed by the related issue of invasive species. However, during the last decade releases of native species with a potential non-native genome have attained more attention. A suitable model species for studying genetic effects of large-scale releases of a native species is the Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos; it is the most widespread duck in the world, it is a migrating species, and an important game bird. In several European countries it is also farmed and released to increase the harvestable population, and more than 3 million unfledged hatchlings are released each year around Europe. The aims of this study were to determine if wild and released farmed Mallards differed genetically among subpopulations in Europe, if there are signs of previous or ongoing introgression between wild and farmed Mallards, and if the genetic structure of the wild Mallard population has changed since large-scale releases started in the 1970s. We used 360 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) to analyze the genetic structure of historical wild, present-day wild, and farmed Mallards. We found a clear genetic difference between wild and farmed Mallards in Europe. We also found signs of introgression of farmed genes in the wild Mallard population, however, the rate of hybridization is probably minor due to low survival of released farmed Mallards and a change of the wild population since the start of large-scale releases is therefore limited. A low level of hybridization between farmed and wild Mallard is desired as introgressed genes may be detrimental for wild Mallards, and efforts to increase survival of farmed Mallards should therefore not be encouraged.

Es ist eine seit langem übliche Praxis in Forstwirtschaft, Fischerei und allgemeinem Wildtiermanagement, Wildtierbestände gezielt aufzustocken. In den letzten ca. zehn Jahren haben aber solche Programme Aufmerksamkeit erregt, in denen lokale Bestände von Tierarten mit Individuen der gleichen Art, aber aus anderen Regionen und damit potentiell nicht-nativen Genomen aufgestockt wurden. Die Stockente Anas platyrhynchos ist ein geeignetes Modell um die genetischen Effekte solcher großskaligen Freisetzungen auf den einheimischen Genpool zu untersuchen, weil sie die am weitesten verbreitete und zahlreichste Entenart der Welt ist, über weite Strecken migrieren kann und gleichzeitig global das wichtigste Federwild darstellt. In vielen europäischen Ländern wird die Stockente seit etwa den frühen 1970er Jahren auch auf speziellen Farmen gezüchtet und zu Jagdzwecken ausgesetzt. So gehen aktuelle Schätzungen davon aus, dass jährlich etwa drei Millionen junge Enten nur zum Zweck der Aufstockung zur Jagd an europäischen Gewässern ausgesetzt werden. Die Ziele unserer Studie waren herauszufinden, ob sich Enten von Farmpopulationen genetisch von wilden Enten unterscheiden lassen, ob es Anzeichen früherer oder anhaltender genetischer Introgression zwischen diesen beiden Gruppen gibt und ob sich die genetische Struktur der wilden Entenpopulationen seit der großskaligen Entenaufstockung verändert hat. Dazu verwendeten wir 360 SNP Marker (Single Nucleotide Polymorhpism) um die genetische Struktur von historischen wilden Stockenten (Museumsproben), zeitgenössischen wilden Stockenten und Farm-Enten zu vergleichen (N = 591). Wir fanden klare genetische Unterschiede zwischen wilden Stockenten und Farm-Enten in mehreren Ländern Europas. Ebenfalls konnten wir genetische Introgression von Genen der Farm-Enten in die wilde Stockentenpopulation zeigen. Die Vermischung scheint bisher zwar messbar aber noch gering zu sein, da auf Farmen gezüchtete Stockenten in der Wildnis geringe Überlebensraten

The practice of restocking already viable populations to improve harvest has since long been common in forestry, fisheries and wildlife management. The potential risks with restocking of native species has for a long time been overshadowed by the related issue of invasive species. However, during the last decade releases of native species with a potential non-native genome have attained more attention. A suitable model species for studying genetic effects of large-scale releases of a native species is the Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos; it is the most widespread duck in the world, it is a migrating species, and an important game bird. In several European countries it is also farmed and released to increase the harvestable population, and more than 3 million unfledged hatchlings are released each year around Europe. The aims of this study were to determine if wild and released farmed Mallards differed genetically among subpopulations in Europe, if there are signs of previous or ongoing introgression between wild and farmed Mallards, and if the genetic structure of the wild Mallard population has changed since large-scale releases started in the 1970s. We used 360 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) to analyze the genetic structure of historical wild, present-day wild, and farmed Mallards. We found a clear genetic difference between wild and farmed Mallards in Europe. We also found signs of introgression of farmed genes in the wild Mallard population, however, the rate of hybridization is probably minor due to low survival of released farmed Mallards and a change of the wild population since the start of large-scale releases is therefore limited. A low level of hybridization between farmed and wild Mallard is desired as introgressed genes may be detrimental for wild Mallards, and efforts to increase survival of farmed Mallards should therefore not be encouraged.

In the 19th century, the red deer (Cervus elaphus) population in Sweden experienced a rapid decline in numbers and distribution. A small population was, however, remnant in the southernmost province (Skane) of the country, presumably corresponding to the nominate form of red deer (Cervus elaphus elaphusLinnaeus, 1758). After management, reintroductions, and supplementary release during the 20th century the Swedish C.elaphus population recovered. The recovery was partially uncontrolled, and included introductions of C.elaphus of continental origin. In northern central Sweden (Jamtland) the current C.elaphus population may stem from natural colonization from Norway and/or from specimens of Swedish origin that have escaped from enclosures. To evaluate the status of the current, partially separated populations, we investigated variation at microsatellite markers in 157 C.elaphus specimens from ten locations in Sweden and Norway. Analyses suggest that the highest-likelihood phylogenetic structure among the individuals sampled is described four distinct genetic clusters: (1) animals from the province of Vastergotland in south-western Sweden; (2) deer from the southernmost province of Skane; (3) deer from the provinces Jamtland, Blekinge, and Vastmanland; and (4) Norwegian deer. Cervus elaphus from a captive herd at the Skane Zoo cluster with deer from Skane or deer from Vastergotland, depending on the method of analysis. A number of populations in Sweden may genetically match the nominate form of red deer (C.e.elaphus). The recently established C.elaphus population in Jamtland seems to stem mainly from escapees from enclosures, with a mixed ancestry from the wild remnant population in Skane and continental deer, whereas the influx from Norway is minor, if any. Our results show the need for a detailed assessment of genetic differentiation, and emphasize the value of local management plans when planning and managing introductions.

Introduced populations can be affected by random processes such as genetic drift, deterministic processes given by the local environmental conditions and anthropogenic factors such as hunting and management. Geographically constrained populations are particularly exposed to these processes, and altogether, these factors may result in rapid differentiation from the ancestral populations. The introduced European brown hare (Lepus europaeus) population on the island Ven is isolated from the Swedish and Danish mainland. Undocumented observations suggest that the hares on the island have been increasingly diseased in recent years and also decreased in body size. To test the substance of these observations, as well as the potential for inbreeding depression in this geographically constrained population, a total of 321 hares from Ven and three reference populations on the Swedish mainland were analysed with respect to body mass, general health status and genetic variation. The results confirm that the hares on Ven have lower body mass than hares on the mainland, but there are no indications of health deficits. We argue that the difference in body mass primarily is an island effect of stress and/or nutritional shortage, possibly induced by high population density, anthropogenic selection regimes and absence of mammalian meso-predators. Further, the genetic data indicate that the insular population is substructured, and subadults from these two subpopulations differ in body mass. This apparent substructuring could be due to chance effects, but may also be related to assortative mating or presence of sustained populations with different ancestry.

To investigate the extent and effect of hybridisation between wild sympatric populations of introduced brown hares (Lepus europaeus) and native mountain hares (L.timidus) in Sweden, the geographic distribution of genetic variation in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and nuclear DNA microsatellite markers were analysed within and between the two species and their presumed hybrids. The mtDNA sequence divergence between the species is approximately 10%,which indicates that the lineages diverged 2-7 million years ago. However, the genetic distance in nuclear genes, calculated from microsatellite data is comparable to would be expected between two different populations of the same species (FST=0.20). The geographic substructuring of mtDNA haplotypes among mountain hares indicates a postglacial recolonisation of Scandinavia both from the south and the north-east. The high mtDNA diversity among brown hares (0.893+/-0.002) is explained with an admixture of introduced individuals with different geographic origins in Europe. Approximately 10% of the brown hares have mountain hare mtDNA, whichindicates extensive hybridisation between the two species and a biased introgression of mtDNA. The distribution of mountain hare mtDNA haplotypes introgressed to brown hares was, however, significantly different from that among pure mountain hares. Possibly, hybridisation and introgression was common during the initial phase of contact between the species. Subsequently, the mtDNA haplotype distribution evolved differently among mountain hares and brown hares with mountain hare mtDNA. The frequency of transmitted mountain hare mtDNA is significantly lower among brown hares in areas where mountain hares occurred less than 100 years ago. Presumably, brown hares with mountain hare mtDNA have a reduced fitness caused by cytonuclear incompatibility between the mountain hare mtDNA and the brown hare nuclear DNA. A population assignment test, along with a neighbor-joining tree based ongenetic distances