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Wildlife Featured in this article
- Eurasian red squirrels
Urbanization challenges Eurasian red squirrels
Changes in the squirrels’ genetics have occurred in the last 30 years
Busy roads, a lack of green space and supplemental feeding is changing the genes of Eurasian red squirrels in Japan. Researchers recently looked at the genetic structure of the squirrels living in urban and rural areas in Hokkaido, Japan. They found that gene flow between the urban and rural populations of Eurasian red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) decreased, and genetic diversity has decreased in urban areas. The researchers believe these genetic changes occurred only within the last 30 years.
Header Image: Urbanization is changing the genetics of Eurasian red squirrels in Japan. Credit: Jeon Han
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