Impact of landscape management on the genetic structure of red squirrel populations

Landscape management practices that alter the degree of habitat fragmentati on can significantly affect the genetic structure of animal populations. Br itish red squirrels use "stepping stone" patches of habitat to move conside rable distances through a fragmented habitat. Over the past few decades, th e planting of a large conifer forest has connected groups of forest fragmen ts in the north of England with those in southern Scotland. This "defragmen tation" of the landscape has resulted in substantial genetic mixing of Scot tish and Cumbrian genes in squirrel populations up to 100 kilometers from t he site of the new forest. These results have implications for the conserva tion management of animal and plant species in fragmented landscapes such a s those found in Britain.