| Project duration: | 2026-2030 |
|---|---|
| Project status: | Active |
| Project leader: | dr habil. Magdalena Niedziałkowska |
| Project co-investigators: |
Dr habil. Mateusz Baca (Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw) Dr Danijela Popović (Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw) Dr habil. Maciej Krajcarz (Institute of Geological Sciences, PAS) Dr Magdalena Krajcarz (Institute of Archaeology, Nicolaus Copernicus University) Dr Magdalena Krajcarz (Institute of Archaeology, Nicolaus Copernicus University) Prof. dr hab. Daniel Makowiecki (Institute of Archaeology, Nicolaus Copernicus University) Prof. dr hab. Krzysztof Stefaniak (Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław) Mgr Matteo Indelicato (MRI PAS) Mgr Barbara Marczuk (MRI PAS) |
Aims of the project
The aim of our project is to investigate the history of two species of roe deer — the European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and the Siberian roe deer (C. pygargus) — and the changes in their distribution across Europe over the last 50,000 years. We aim to determine when these species began to interbreed, how their ranges have changed, and how they have responded to climate change and human activity. Both species differ from one another morphologically, genetically and behaviourally, and in terms of their geographical distribution; consequently, understanding their ecological and evolutionary history is an interesting research topic.
Our main question is how the ranges of these two species changed in response to climate oscillations, particularly during the last glacial period and the post-glacial period. We hypothesise that the ranges of both C. capreolus and C. pygargus changed in accordance with climatic and landscape changes, for example as a result of the expansion of agricultural land. In addition, the research aims to answer the question of when both species co-existed in the same areas and to what extent they interbred, particularly before and after the last glacial period.
Significance of the project
Although the European roe deer is a common species in Europe, its ecological and demographic history is poorly understood. Furthermore, data on changes in the roe deer’s range over thousands of years are difficult to establish, as these species are hard to distinguish on the basis of morphological characteristics alone. Our research utilises modern genetic methods which will allow us to assign subfossil roe deer remains more precisely to specific species, as well as enabling us to detect any potential hybrids. Thanks to these techniques, we will be able to track changes in the distribution of these animals more accurately and investigate how they were affected by environmental changes, such as climate warming during the Holocene or the development of agriculture.
Research methods
In our project, we combine expertise from various fields, including genetics, palaeontology and biogeography. We will analyse genetic material from both modern and subfossil roe deer samples using state-of-the-art DNA sequencing methods. Furthermore, by analysing carbon and nitrogen isotopes in bones and teeth, we will determine the ecological differences between these two species, as well as the habitats in which they foraged. We will also use radiocarbon dating to determine changes in their ranges over time.
Expected outcomes of the research
Our research will result in a detailed reconstruction of the ecological and evolutionary history of roe deer in Europe. Through the use of genetic, isotopic and spatial analyses, we will be able to better understand how these species responded to climate change, how they adapted to a changing landscape, and what their survival strategies were. Furthermore, the results of our research may contribute to a better understanding of the process of gene flow between species, as well as help to assess the impact of human activity on their distribution and genetic diversity. In summary, our research will provide valuable insights into the history of one of the most widespread and ecologically important species of ungulate in Europe and its relationship with its closest relative.