Data from: Demographic history, current expansion and future management challenges of wild boar populations in the Balkans and Europe

Wild boar (Sus scrofa), one of the most widespread wildlife species, has entered a stage of continuous growth in Europe, and could even be considered a pest species. We analysed microsatellite variability in 723 wild boars from across Europe, including the northern Dinaric Balkans. Our aims were: (1) to define the population structure of wild boars in the Balkans and its relation with other European populations; (2) to estimate effective populations sizes, levels of intra- and inter-population diversity, inbreeding migration and gene flow patterns; (3) to test subpopulations for bottlenecks; (4) to interpret these results in light of current knowledge about the demographic history of wild boars in Europe; and (5) to discuss the relevance of these findings for management and conservation. Strong population structuring was observed and 14 subpopulations were revealed. High genetic diversity was found, and besides the well-known identity of the Italian populations of Sardinia and Castelporziano, we bring new insights to other potential relevant, refugial populations such as Littoral Slovenia, South Portugal, North-western Iberia, and a whole entire cluster in the Balkans. There was evidence of gene flow going from these refugial subpopulations towards less peripheral and more admixed subpopulations. Recent population bottlenecks and expansions were detected, mostly in the peninsular refuge subpopulations. The results are consistent with the fluctuations of wild boar numbers in Europe since the beginning of the twentieth century. These results should be taken into account in future conservation and management plans for wild boar populations in Europe.

野猪（Sus scrofa）是全球分布最广泛的野生动物物种之一，目前在欧洲的种群数量持续增长，甚至已被视为有害物种。本研究对覆盖欧洲全域（含北狄那里克巴尔干地区）的723头野猪开展了微卫星（microsatellite）变异分析。研究目标包括：（1）明确巴尔干地区野猪的种群结构，及其与欧洲其他区域野猪种群的亲缘关联；（2）估算有效种群大小（effective population size）、种群内与种群间的多样性水平、近交程度、迁移模式以及基因流（gene flow）特征；（3）检测各亚种群是否存在种群瓶颈（population bottleneck）效应；（4）结合当前学界对欧洲野猪种群动态历史的既有认知，解读本研究的分析结果；（5）探讨本研究结果对于野猪种群管理与保护工作的参考价值。

研究结果显示，野猪种群存在显著的遗传结构，共划分出14个亚种群。本次检测到较高水平的遗传多样性，除了已知的撒丁岛与卡斯泰尔波尔齐亚诺的意大利野猪种群的遗传特征外，本研究还为其他潜在关键避难所种群（refugial population）提供了新的研究见解，这些种群包括斯洛文尼亚沿海种群、葡萄牙南部种群、伊比利亚西北部种群，以及巴尔干地区的一个完整聚类群。有遗传学证据表明，上述避难所亚种群的基因流流向了周边隔离程度更低、遗传混合程度更高的亚种群。近期的种群瓶颈与扩张事件主要在半岛型避难所亚种群中被检测到。本研究结果与20世纪初以来欧洲野猪种群数量的波动情况一致。上述研究结果应在未来欧洲野猪种群的保护与管理规划中得到重视与应用。