Allozyme variation in the Eurasian badger Meles meles in Denmark

Genetic diversity in four populations of the Eurasian badger Meles meles fr om Denmark was estimated by allozyme electrophoresis. Low genetic variabili ty was found within populations as compared to the variability found in bad ger populations from other countries, whereas significant genetic different iation was found between populations. The low genetic variability and the d ifferentiation between populations is explained by the fragmentation of the Danish landscape, which reduces the effective population size of local pop ulations and the gene flow between them. Low genetic variability found for Danish badgers also supports the hypothesis of a rapid recolonization follo wing the last glaciation.