Main Menu

Wildlife
- Close
- - We protect wildlife in Britain and around the world by bringing our most threatened species back from the brink of extinction. We do this through ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters.
Wild places
- Close
- - Some habitats contain such a richness of life that we need to protect them at all odds. We are working to preserve ancient woodlands, orchards and wood pastures and parklands, as well as the countless species they support.
What we do
- Close
- - Everything we do is based on scientific evidence. We gather this through surveys, which you can take part in, and by awarding research grants to the most inspiring scientists worldwide. This evidence guides our conservation efforts and is shared through our events and publications.
Who we are
- Close
- - People’s Trust for Endangered Species was set up in 1977 to save our wildlife. We are governed by a board of volunteer trustees and our team of staff are passionate about protecting endangered species and places.
Success stories
- Close
- - We strive to bring our most threatened species in the UK and around the world back from the brink of extinction. Our successes come from ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters.
Get involved
- Close
- - There are so many ways you can help save endangered species. Fancy taking part in a survey, joining us on a wildlife event or becoming a regular supporter?
Shop
- Close
- - Support our work in our shop with a range of charity gifts, home-ware, cards and more. 100% of the profits go directly to help wildlife both in the UK an overseas.
Donate
- Close
- - There is nothing natural about the alarming rate at which we are losing animals and their homes. It is absolutely avoidable. We can stop the loss of our wildlife – but we need your support. You can act now by choosing to give to our cause. Thank you.

Basket Search

Donate

PTES News Basket Search

Wildlife
- Close
- - We protect wildlife in Britain and around the world by bringing our most threatened species back from the brink of extinction. We do this through ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters.
Wild places
- Close
- - Some habitats contain such a richness of life that we need to protect them at all odds. We are working to preserve ancient woodlands, orchards and wood pastures and parklands, as well as the countless species they support.
What we do
- Close
- - Everything we do is based on scientific evidence. We gather this through surveys, which you can take part in, and by awarding research grants to the most inspiring scientists worldwide. This evidence guides our conservation efforts and is shared through our events and publications.
Who we are
- Close
- - People’s Trust for Endangered Species was set up in 1977 to save our wildlife. We are governed by a board of volunteer trustees and our team of staff are passionate about protecting endangered species and places.
Success stories
- Close
- - We strive to bring our most threatened species in the UK and around the world back from the brink of extinction. Our successes come from ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters.
Get involved
- Close
- - There are so many ways you can help save endangered species. Fancy taking part in a survey, joining us on a wildlife event or becoming a regular supporter?
Shop
- Close
- - Support our work in our shop with a range of charity gifts, home-ware, cards and more. 100% of the profits go directly to help wildlife both in the UK an overseas.
Donate
- Close
- - There is nothing natural about the alarming rate at which we are losing animals and their homes. It is absolutely avoidable. We can stop the loss of our wildlife – but we need your support. You can act now by choosing to give to our cause. Thank you.

Home // Discover wildlife // Publications // Hedgehog Papers // Becher & Griffiths (2008) Genetic differentiation among local populations of the European hedgehog in mosaic habitats

Becher & Griffiths (2008) Genetic differentiation among local populations of the European hedgehog in mosaic habitats

Title: Genetic differentiation among local populations of the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) in mosaic habitats, Molecular Ecology: Short Communication 7;1599-1604. 1998

Authors: S. A. Becher & R. Griffiths

Country: UK

Background to study

An investigation using neutral genetic markers (microsatellites) into the genetic variability and gene flow between small populations of hedgehogs in agricultural landscapes.

Method

160 tissue samples were obtained by ear biopsies taken from hedgehogs captured during nightly spotlight surveys between May and September 1990-1993.
Hedgehog samples were obtained from eight habitat patches of grassland around Oxford, where estimated hedgehog abundance ranged from 12 to 105 individuals.
DNA was extracted from each sample using standard methods and six microsatellite markers (variable regions of neutral DNA) were isolated. Diversity indices including the number of alleles and proportion of heterozygotes (individuals with two alleles per loci that are not identical by descent) were calculated, as was the genetic structure between populations (using Rousset’s parameter Rho_ST)_.
Gene flow (i.e. the number of migrants that are exchanging genes between populations) was calculated using the frequency of private alleles (genetic variants that are unique to a population) and the relationship between gene flow and distance was investigated using a mantel test which permutes between two matrices of genetic differentiation and geographic distance.

Key results

Between six and nine alleles were identified across the six microsatellite markers and private alleles were observed in six of the eight samples.
Significant heterozygote deficiencies were observed in one population which may suggest a loss of diversity due to inbreeding or naturally low levels of genetic diversity at the genetic markers analysed in this study.
The populations were significantly structured genetically which suggests that gene flow is not sufficient to prevent populations becoming genetically dissimilar from each other.
Gene flow estimates suggested that 2.34 individuals on average were exchanged between populations per generation, however this varied from 0.36 individuals between two populations separated by 16.75 km and 9.58 individuals between two populations separated by 10.75 km.
There was no significant correlation between the genetic differentiation between populations and geographical distance suggesting that factors other than distance influence the rate of gene flow between populations.

Key messages to landowners and managers derived from these results

Further investigation using neutral genetic markers is recommended to ascertain other factors that may influence the dispersal behaviour of hedgehogs and extent of genetic exchange between populations.
Investigations into habitats that facilitate dispersal of hedgehogs between populations and that determine the threshold distance between populations that result in their isolation is highly recommended.