Capercaillie Genetics in the Black Forest - Changes after 10 years of management

The capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) still inhabits a large range worldwide, but many populations in Western and Central Europe have already disappeared or declined significantly. As a result, the species is listed in Annex I of the EU Birds Directive, granting it a special conservation status across Europe. Additionally, the capercaillie is classified as a "strictly protected species" under Germany's Federal Nature Conservation Act. In the Black Forest, located in southwestern Germany, the capercaillie population was first estimated in 1971 through comprehensive lek surveys. Since 1983, these surveys have been conducted annually, documenting a strongly negative population trend: the number of displaying males decreased from 570 in 1971 to just 97 in 2022, and the annual counts have remained at a low level since then. Genetic differentiation between subpopulations has already increased in the last survey, indicating a lack of connectivity and, consequently, a lack of genetic exchange. As part of the current research project, a new genetic survey is planned to assess the ongoing trend. The primary research questions are: (1) What is the current genetic diversity of the capercaillie population in the Black Forest? and (2) Is the negative trend in genetic differentiation continuing?