Bovine TB: Research project summary
Project SE3110: A molecular genetic analysis of badger social structure and bovine TB
Project duration: 7 years, 2 months
This project used genetic profiling of badgers culled in the Randomised Badger Culling Trial to investigate the effect of culling on badger movements.
Genetic diversity within populations was similar among the 10 cull sites, though lower in the most southern site, most likely due to the restricted gene flow within the Cornwall peninsula.
Genetic divergence among sites was high & followed a significant ‘isolation by distance’ pattern – i.e. genetic difference increased in a predictable manner with increasing geographical distance.
Analysis of the genetic signatures using standard tests revealed increased dispersal following culling.
A newly developed analytical model to estimate ‘displacement’ in culled areas, in addition to showing the previously established increases in home range size in response to culling, indicated that:
- The increase appeared to be the result of large numbers of individuals increasing their movement, over both short and long distances (>5 km);
- Males moved significantly further than females;
- Badgers infected with bovine TB moved significantly further than uninfected badgers (though the overall effect size was small);
- Increased estimated displacement was detected in populations with higher levels of previous badger removal operations; and;
- Shorter time intervals between culls resulted in lower rates of badger movement than longer time intervals.
Back to Research projects
Page last modified:
July 7, 2008