1
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Cerri J, Musto C, Stefanini FM, di Nicola U, Riganelli N, Fontana MC, Rossi A, Garbarino C, Merialdi G, Ciuti F, Berzi D, Delogu M, Apollonio M. A human-neutral large carnivore? No patterns in the body mass of gray wolves across a gradient of anthropization. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0282232. [PMID: 37262076 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The gray wolf (Canis lupus) expanded its distribution in Europe over the last few decades. To better understand the extent to which wolves could re-occupy their historical range, it is important to test if anthropization can affect their fitness-related traits. After having accounted for ecologically relevant confounders, we assessed how anthropization influenced i) the growth of wolves during their first year of age (n = 53), ii) sexual dimorphism between male and female adult wolves (n = 121), in a sample of individuals that had been found dead in Italy between 1999 and 2021. Wolves in anthropized areas have a smaller overall variation in their body mass, during their first year of age. Because they already have slightly higher body weight at 3-5 months, possibly due to the availability of human-derived food sources. The difference in the body weight of adult females and males slightly increases with anthropization. However, this happens because of an increase in the body mass of males only, possibly due to sex-specific differences in dispersal and/or to "dispersal phenotypes". Anthropization in Italy does not seem to have any clear, nor large, effect on the body mass of wolves. As body mass is in turn linked to important processes, like survival and reproduction, our findings indicates that wolves could potentially re-occupy most of their historical range in Europe, as anthropized landscapes do not seem to constrain such of an important life-history trait. Wolf management could therefore be needed across vast spatial scales and in anthropized areas prone to social conflicts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacopo Cerri
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Carmela Musto
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Federico M Stefanini
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Politiche Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Milano "La Statale", Milano, Italy
| | | | | | - Maria C Fontana
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia-Romagna Bruno Ubertino, Brescia, Italy
| | - Arianna Rossi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia-Romagna Bruno Ubertino, Brescia, Italy
| | - Chiara Garbarino
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia-Romagna Bruno Ubertino, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Merialdi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia-Romagna Bruno Ubertino, Brescia, Italy
| | | | | | - Mauro Delogu
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marco Apollonio
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
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2
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Barash A, Preiss-Bloom S, Machluf Y, Fabbri E, Malkinson D, Velli E, Mucci N, Barash A, Caniglia R, Dayan T, Dekel Y. Possible origins and implications of atypical morphologies and domestication-like traits in wild golden jackals (Canis aureus). Sci Rep 2023; 13:7388. [PMID: 37149712 PMCID: PMC10164184 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34533-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Deciphering the origins of phenotypic variations in natural animal populations is a challenging topic for evolutionary and conservation biologists. Atypical morphologies in mammals are usually attributed to interspecific hybridisation or de-novo mutations. Here we report the case of four golden jackals (Canis aureus), that were observed during a camera-trapping wildlife survey in Northern Israel, displaying anomalous morphological traits, such as white patches, an upturned tail, and long thick fur which resemble features of domesticated mammals. Another individual was culled under permit and was genetically and morphologically examined. Paternal and nuclear genetic profiles, as well as geometric morphometric data, identified this individual as a golden jackal rather than a recent dog/wolf-jackal hybrid. Its maternal haplotype suggested past introgression of African wolf (Canis lupaster) mitochondrial DNA, as previously documented in other jackals from Israel. When viewed in the context of the jackal as an overabundant species in Israel, the rural nature of the surveyed area, the abundance of anthropogenic waste, and molecular and morphological findings, the possibility of an individual presenting incipient stages of domestication should also be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayelet Barash
- School of Zoology and The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Unit of Agrigenomics, Shamir Research Institute, University of Haifa, 1290000, Kazerin, Israel
| | - Shlomo Preiss-Bloom
- School of Zoology and The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Yossy Machluf
- Unit of Agrigenomics, Shamir Research Institute, University of Haifa, 1290000, Kazerin, Israel
| | - Elena Fabbri
- Unit for Conservation Genetics (BIO‑CGE), Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Via Cà Fornacetta 9, Ozzano dell'Emilia, 40064, Bologna, Italy
| | - Dan Malkinson
- Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Haifa, 3498838, Haifa, Israel
| | - Edoardo Velli
- Unit for Conservation Genetics (BIO‑CGE), Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Via Cà Fornacetta 9, Ozzano dell'Emilia, 40064, Bologna, Italy
| | - Nadia Mucci
- Unit for Conservation Genetics (BIO‑CGE), Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Via Cà Fornacetta 9, Ozzano dell'Emilia, 40064, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alon Barash
- The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar Ilan University, 8 Henrietta Szold St, Safed, Israel
| | - Romolo Caniglia
- Unit for Conservation Genetics (BIO‑CGE), Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Via Cà Fornacetta 9, Ozzano dell'Emilia, 40064, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Tamar Dayan
- School of Zoology and The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
| | - Yaron Dekel
- Unit of Agrigenomics, Shamir Research Institute, University of Haifa, 1290000, Kazerin, Israel.
- The Cheryl Spencer Department of Nursing and The Cheryl Spencer Institute of Nursing Research, University of Haifa, 3498838, Haifa, Israel.
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3
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Dissegna A, Rota M, Basile S, Fusco G, Mencucci M, Cappai N, Galaverni M, Fabbri E, Velli E, Caniglia R. How to Choose? Comparing Different Methods to Count Wolf Packs in a Protected Area of the Northern Apennines. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14040932. [PMID: 37107690 PMCID: PMC10137897 DOI: 10.3390/genes14040932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite a natural rewilding process that caused wolf populations in Europe to increase and expand in the last years, human-wolf conflicts still persist, threatening the long-term wolf presence in both anthropic and natural areas. Conservation management strategies should be carefully designed on updated population data and planned on a wide scale. Unfortunately, reliable ecological data are difficult and expensive to obtain and often hardly comparable through time or among different areas, especially because of different sampling designs. In order to assess the performance of different methods to estimate wolf (Canis lupus L.) abundance and distribution in southern Europe, we simultaneously applied three techniques: wolf howling, camera trapping and non-invasive genetic sampling in a protected area of the northern Apennines. We aimed at counting the minimum number of packs during a single wolf biological year and evaluating the pros and cons for each technique, comparing results obtained from different combinations of these three methods and testing how sampling effort may affect results. We found that packs' identifications could be hardly comparable if methods were separately used with a low sampling effort: wolf howling identified nine, camera trapping 12 and non-invasive genetic sampling eight packs. However, increased sampling efforts produced more consistent and comparable results across all used methods, although results from different sampling designs should be carefully compared. The integration of the three techniques yielded the highest number of detected packs, 13, although with the highest effort and cost. A common standardised sampling strategy should be a priority approach to studying elusive large carnivores, such as the wolf, allowing for the comparison of key population parameters and developing shared and effective conservation management plans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Dissegna
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58b, 35121 Padova, Italy
| | - Martino Rota
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58b, 35121 Padova, Italy
| | - Simone Basile
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58b, 35121 Padova, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Fusco
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58b, 35121 Padova, Italy
- National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Piazza Marina 61, 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - Marco Mencucci
- Reparto Carabinieri Parco Nazionale Foreste Casentinesi, Via G. Brocchi 7, 52015 Pratovecchio-Stia, Italy
| | - Nadia Cappai
- Foreste Casentinesi National Park, Via G. Brocchi 7, 52015 Pratovecchio-Stia, Italy
| | | | - Elena Fabbri
- Unit for Conservation Genetics (BIO-CGE), Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Via Cà Fornacetta 9, 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia, Italy
| | - Edoardo Velli
- Unit for Conservation Genetics (BIO-CGE), Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Via Cà Fornacetta 9, 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia, Italy
| | - Romolo Caniglia
- Unit for Conservation Genetics (BIO-CGE), Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Via Cà Fornacetta 9, 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia, Italy
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4
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Ex situ versus in situ Eurasian lynx populations: implications for successful breeding and genetic rescue. CONSERV GENET 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-022-01494-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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5
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“Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”: Molecular Tools to Reconstruct multilocus Genetic Profiles from Wild Canid Consumption Remains. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12182428. [PMID: 36139288 PMCID: PMC9495216 DOI: 10.3390/ani12182428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-invasive genetic sampling is a practical tool to monitor pivotal ecological parameters and population dynamic patterns of endangered species. It can be particularly suitable when applied to elusive carnivores such as the Apennine wolf (Canis lupus italicus) and the European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris), which can live in overlapping ecological contexts and sometimes share their habitats with their domestic free-ranging relatives, increasing the risk of anthropogenic hybridisation. In this case study, we exploited all the ecological and genetic information contained in a single biological canid faecal sample, collected in a forested area of central Italy, to detect any sign of trophic interactions between wolves and European wildcats or their domestic counterparts. Firstly, the faecal finding was morphologically examined, showing the presence of felid hair and claw fragment remains. Subsequently, total genomic DNA contained in the hair and claw samples was extracted and genotyped, through a multiple-tube approach, at canid and felid diagnostic panels of microsatellite loci. Finally, the obtained individual multilocus genotypes were analysed with reference wild and domestic canid and felid populations to assess their correct taxonomic status using Bayesian clustering procedures. Assignment analyses classified the genotype obtained from the endothelial cells present on the hair sample as a wolf with slight signals of dog ancestry, showing a qi = 0.954 (C.I. 0.780–1.000) to the wolf cluster, and the genotype obtained from the claw as a domestic cat, showing a qi = 0.996 (95% C.I. = 0.982–1.000) to the domestic cat cluster. Our results clearly show how a non-invasive multidisciplinary approach allows the cost-effective identification of both prey and predator genetic profiles and their taxonomic status, contributing to the improvement of our knowledge about feeding habits, predatory dynamics, and anthropogenic hybridisation risk in threatened species.
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6
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A reduced SNP panel to trace gene flow across southern European wolf populations and detect hybridization with other Canis taxa. Sci Rep 2022; 12:4195. [PMID: 35264717 PMCID: PMC8907317 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-08132-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Intra- and inter-specific gene flow are natural evolutionary processes. However, human-induced hybridization is a global conservation concern across taxa, and the development of discriminant genetic markers to differentiate among gene flow processes is essential. Wolves (Canis lupus) are affected by hybridization, particularly in southern Europe, where ongoing recolonization of historic ranges is augmenting gene flow among divergent populations. Our aim was to provide diagnostic canid markers focused on the long-divergent Iberian, Italian and Dinaric wolf populations, based on existing genomic resources. We used 158 canid samples to select a panel of highly informative single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to (i) distinguish wolves in the three regions from domestic dogs (C. l. familiaris) and golden jackals (C. aureus), and (ii) identify their first two hybrid generations. The resulting 192 SNPs correctly identified the five canid groups, all simulated first-generation (F1) hybrids (0.482 ≤ Qi ≤ 0.512 between their respective parental groups) and all first backcross (BC1) individuals (0.723 ≤ Qi ≤ 0.827 to parental groups). An assay design and test with invasive and non-invasive canid samples performed successfully for 178 SNPs. By separating natural population admixture from inter-specific hybridization, our reduced panel can help advance evolutionary research, monitoring, and timely conservation management.
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7
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Stahlke AR, Bitume EV, Özsoy ZA, Bean DW, Veillet A, Clark MI, Clark EI, Moran P, Hufbauer RA, Hohenlohe PA. Hybridization and range expansion in tamarisk beetles ( Diorhabda spp.) introduced to North America for classical biological control. Evol Appl 2022; 15:60-77. [PMID: 35126648 PMCID: PMC8792477 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
With the global rise of human-mediated translocations and invasions, it is critical to understand the genomic consequences of hybridization and mechanisms of range expansion. Conventional wisdom is that high genetic drift and loss of genetic diversity due to repeated founder effects will constrain introduced species. However, reduced genetic variation can be countered by behavioral aspects and admixture with other distinct populations. As planned invasions, classical biological control (biocontrol) agents present important opportunities to understand the mechanisms of establishment and spread in a novel environment. The ability of biocontrol agents to spread and adapt, and their effects on local ecosystems, depends on genomic variation and the consequences of admixture in novel environments. Here, we use a biocontrol system to examine the genome-wide outcomes of introduction, spread, and hybridization in four cryptic species of a biocontrol agent, the tamarisk beetle (Diorhabda carinata, D. carinulata, D. elongata, and D. sublineata), introduced from six localities across Eurasia to control the invasive shrub tamarisk (Tamarix spp.) in western North America. We assembled a de novo draft reference genome and applied RADseq to over 500 individuals across laboratory cultures, the native ranges, and the introduced range. Despite evidence of a substantial genetic bottleneck among D. carinulata in N. America, populations continue to establish and spread, possibly due to aggregation behavior. We found that D. carinata, D. elongata, and D. sublineata hybridize in the field to varying extents, with D. carinata × D. sublineata hybrids being the most abundant. Genetic diversity was greater at sites with hybrids, highlighting potential for increased ability to adapt and expand. Our results demonstrate the complex patterns of genomic variation that can result from introduction of multiple ecotypes or species for biocontrol, and the importance of understanding them to predict and manage the effects of biocontrol agents in novel ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda R. Stahlke
- Initiative for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary StudiesDepartment of Biological SciencesUniversity of IdahoMoscowIdahoUSA
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA‐ARS)Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Bee Research LaboratoryBeltsvilleMarylandUSA
| | - Ellyn V. Bitume
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA‐ARS), Invasive Species and Pollinator Health Research UnitAlbanyCaliforniaUSA
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (USDA‐FS), Pacific Southwest, Institute of Pacific Islands ForestryHiloHawaiiUSA
| | - Zeynep A. Özsoy
- Department of Biological SciencesColorado Mesa UniversityGrand JunctionColoradoUSA
| | - Dan W. Bean
- Colorado Department of AgriculturePalisadeColoradoUSA
| | - Anne Veillet
- Initiative for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary StudiesDepartment of Biological SciencesUniversity of IdahoMoscowIdahoUSA
| | - Meaghan I. Clark
- Department of Integrative BiologyMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMichiganUSA
| | - Eliza I. Clark
- Agricultural BiologyColorado State UniversityFort CollinsColoradoUSA
- Graduate Degree Program in EcologyColorado State UniversityFort CollinsColoradoUSA
| | - Patrick Moran
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA‐ARS), Invasive Species and Pollinator Health Research UnitAlbanyCaliforniaUSA
| | - Ruth A. Hufbauer
- Agricultural BiologyColorado State UniversityFort CollinsColoradoUSA
- Graduate Degree Program in EcologyColorado State UniversityFort CollinsColoradoUSA
| | - Paul A. Hohenlohe
- Initiative for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary StudiesDepartment of Biological SciencesUniversity of IdahoMoscowIdahoUSA
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8
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Musto C, Cerri J, Galaverni M, Caniglia R, Fabbri E, Apollonio M, Mucci N, Bonilauri P, Maioli G, Fontana MC, Gelmini L, Prosperi A, Rossi A, Garbarino C, Fiorentini L, Ciuti F, Berzi D, Merialdi G, Delogu M. Men and wolves: Anthropogenic causes are an important driver of wolf mortality in human-dominated landscapes in Italy. Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
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9
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Dziech A. Identification of Wolf-Dog Hybrids in Europe – An Overview of Genetic Studies. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.760160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Significant development of genetic tools during the last decades provided opportunities for more detailed analyses and deeper understanding of species hybridization. New genetic markers allowed for reliable identification of admixed individuals deriving from recent hybridization events (a few generations) and those originating from crossings up to 19 generations back. Implementation of microsatellites (STRs) together with Bayesian clustering provided abundant knowledge regarding presence of admixed individuals in numerous populations and helped understand the problematic nature of studying hybridization (i.a., defining a reliable thresholds for recognizing individuals as admixed or obtaining well-grounded results representing actual proportion of hybrids in a population). Nevertheless, their utilization is limited to recent crossbreeding events. Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) proved to be more sensible tools for admixture analyses furnishing more reliable knowledge, especially for older generation backcrosses. Small sets of Ancestry Informative Markers (AIMs) of both types of markers were effective enough to implement in monitoring programs, however, SNPs seem to be more appropriate because of their ability to identify admixed individuals up to 3rd generations. The main aim of this review is to summarize abundant knowledge regarding identification of wolf-dog hybrids in Europe and discuss the most relevant problems relating to the issue, together with advantages and disadvantages of implemented markers and approaches.
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10
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Lavretsky P, Duenez E, Kneece M, Kaminski RM. Population Genetics of a Translocated Population of Mottled Ducks and Allies. J Wildl Manage 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Philip Lavretsky
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Texas at El Paso El Paso TX 79668 USA
| | - Esmeralda Duenez
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Texas at El Paso El Paso TX 79668 USA
| | - Molly Kneece
- South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Georgetown SC 29440 USA
| | - Richard M. Kaminski
- Clemson University's James C. Kennedy Waterfowl and Wetlands Conservation Center Georgetown SC 29442 USA
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11
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Santostasi NL, Gimenez O, Caniglia R, Fabbri E, Molinari L, Reggioni W, Ciucci P. Estimating Admixture at the Population Scale: Taking Imperfect Detectability and Uncertainty in Hybrid Classification Seriously. J Wildl Manage 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nina L. Santostasi
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin” University of Rome La Sapienza Rome Italy
| | - Olivier Gimenez
- CEFE, CNRS University of Montpellier, University Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, EPHE, IRD Montpellier France
| | - Romolo Caniglia
- Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Unit for Conservation Genetics (BIO–CGE), Ozzano dell'Emilia Italy
| | - Elena Fabbri
- Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Unit for Conservation Genetics (BIO–CGE), Ozzano dell'Emilia Italy
| | - Luigi Molinari
- Wolf Apennine Center, Appennino Tosco‐Emiliano National Park, Ligonchio Italy
| | - Willy Reggioni
- Wolf Apennine Center, Appennino Tosco‐Emiliano National Park, Ligonchio Italy
| | - Paolo Ciucci
- CEFE, CNRS University of Montpellier, University Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, EPHE, IRD Montpellier France
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12
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Harmoinen J, von Thaden A, Aspi J, Kvist L, Cocchiararo B, Jarausch A, Gazzola A, Sin T, Lohi H, Hytönen MK, Kojola I, Stronen AV, Caniglia R, Mattucci F, Galaverni M, Godinho R, Ruiz-González A, Randi E, Muñoz-Fuentes V, Nowak C. Reliable wolf-dog hybrid detection in Europe using a reduced SNP panel developed for non-invasively collected samples. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:473. [PMID: 34171993 PMCID: PMC8235813 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07761-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Understanding the processes that lead to hybridization of wolves and dogs is of scientific and management importance, particularly over large geographical scales, as wolves can disperse great distances. However, a method to efficiently detect hybrids in routine wolf monitoring is lacking. Microsatellites offer only limited resolution due to the low number of markers showing distinctive allele frequencies between wolves and dogs. Moreover, calibration across laboratories is time-consuming and costly. In this study, we selected a panel of 96 ancestry informative markers for wolves and dogs, derived from the Illumina CanineHD Whole-Genome BeadChip (174 K). We designed very short amplicons for genotyping on a microfluidic array, thus making the method suitable also for non-invasively collected samples. Results Genotypes based on 93 SNPs from wolves sampled throughout Europe, purebred and non-pedigree dogs, and suspected hybrids showed that the new panel accurately identifies parental individuals, first-generation hybrids and first-generation backcrosses to wolves, while second- and third-generation backcrosses to wolves were identified as advanced hybrids in almost all cases. Our results support the hybrid identity of suspect individuals and the non-hybrid status of individuals regarded as wolves. We also show the adequacy of these markers to assess hybridization at a European-wide scale and the importance of including samples from reference populations. Conclusions We showed that the proposed SNP panel is an efficient tool for detecting hybrids up to the third-generation backcrosses to wolves across Europe. Notably, the proposed genotyping method is suitable for a variety of samples, including non-invasive and museum samples, making this panel useful for wolf-dog hybrid assessments and wolf monitoring at both continental and different temporal scales. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-021-07761-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenni Harmoinen
- Ecology and Genetics Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
| | - Alina von Thaden
- Conservation Genetics Group, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Gelnhausen, Germany.,Institute for Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Biologicum, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Jouni Aspi
- Ecology and Genetics Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Laura Kvist
- Ecology and Genetics Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Berardino Cocchiararo
- Conservation Genetics Group, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Gelnhausen, Germany.,LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Anne Jarausch
- Conservation Genetics Group, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Gelnhausen, Germany.,Institute for Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Biologicum, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Andrea Gazzola
- Association for the Conservation of Biological Diversity, Focşani, Romania
| | - Teodora Sin
- Association for the Conservation of Biological Diversity, Focşani, Romania.,Department of Systems Ecology and Sustainability, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Hannes Lohi
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Folkhälsan Research Center, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Marjo K Hytönen
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Folkhälsan Research Center, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ilpo Kojola
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Eteläranta 55, FI-96300, Rovaniemi, Finland
| | - Astrid Vik Stronen
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.,Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, Insubria University, Varese, Italy
| | - Romolo Caniglia
- Unit for Conservation Genetics (BIO-CGE), Department for the Monitoring and Protection of the Environment and for Biodiversity Conservation, Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Bologna, Italy
| | - Federica Mattucci
- Unit for Conservation Genetics (BIO-CGE), Department for the Monitoring and Protection of the Environment and for Biodiversity Conservation, Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Raquel Godinho
- CIBIO/InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.,Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Aritz Ruiz-González
- Unit for Conservation Genetics (BIO-CGE), Department for the Monitoring and Protection of the Environment and for Biodiversity Conservation, Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Zoology and Animal Cell Biology, Zoology Laboratory, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Ettore Randi
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Faculty of Engineering and Science, University of Aalborg, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Violeta Muñoz-Fuentes
- Conservation Genetics Group, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Gelnhausen, Germany.,European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Carsten Nowak
- Conservation Genetics Group, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Gelnhausen, Germany.,LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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Lawson DM, Williams CK, Lavretsky P, Howell DL, Fuller JC. Mallard–Black Duck Hybridization and Population Genetic Structure in North Carolina. J Wildl Manage 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M. Lawson
- University of Delaware, 531 South College Avenue Newark DE 19716 USA
| | | | - Philip Lavretsky
- University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W University Avenue El Paso TX 79968 USA
| | - Douglas L. Howell
- North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 132 Marine Drive Edenton NC 27699 USA
| | - Joseph C. Fuller
- North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 132 Marine Drive Edenton NC 27699 USA
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Graham CF, Eberts RL, Goncin U, Somers CM. Spontaneous hybridization and introgression between walleye ( Sander vitreus) and sauger ( Sander canadensis) in two large reservoirs: Insights from genotyping by sequencing. Evol Appl 2021; 14:965-982. [PMID: 33897814 PMCID: PMC8061268 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic activities may facilitate undesirable hybridization and genomic introgression between fish species. Walleye (Sander vitreus) and sauger (Sander canadensis) are economically valuable freshwater species that can spontaneously hybridize in areas of sympatry. Levels of genomic introgression between walleye and sauger may be increased by modifications to waterbodies (e.g., reservoir development) and inadvertent propagation of hybrids in stocking programs. We used genotyping by sequencing (GBS) to examine 217 fish from two large reservoirs with mixed populations of walleye and sauger in Saskatchewan, Canada (Lake Diefenbaker, Tobin Lake). Analyses with 20,038 (r90) and 478 (r100) single nucleotide polymorphisms clearly resolved walleye and sauger, and classified hybrids with high confidence. F1, F2, and multigeneration hybrids were detected in Lake Diefenbaker, indicating potentially high levels of genomic introgression. In contrast, only F1 hybrids were detected in Tobin Lake. Field classification of fish was unreliable; 7% of fish were misidentified based on broad species categories. Important for activities such as brood stock selection, 12 of 173 (7%) fish field identified as pure walleye, and one of 24 (4%) identified as pure sauger were actually hybrids. In addition, two of 15 (13%) field-identified hybrids were actually pure walleye or sauger. We conclude that hybridization and introgression are occurring in Saskatchewan reservoirs and that caution is warranted when using these populations in stocking programs. GBS offers a powerful and flexible tool for examining hybridization without preidentification of informative loci, eliminating some of the key challenges associated with other marker types.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rebecca L. Eberts
- Fish, Wildlife, and Lands Branch, Ministry of EnvironmentGovernment of SaskatchewanPrince AlbertSKCanada
| | - Una Goncin
- Department of BiologyUniversity of ReginaReginaSKCanada
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Smeds L, Aspi J, Berglund J, Kojola I, Tirronen K, Ellegren H. Whole-genome analyses provide no evidence for dog introgression in Fennoscandian wolf populations. Evol Appl 2021; 14:721-734. [PMID: 33767747 PMCID: PMC7980305 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Hybridization and admixture can threaten the genetic integrity of populations and be of particular concern to endangered species. Hybridization between grey wolves and dogs has been documented in many wolf populations worldwide and is a prominent example of human-mediated hybridization between a domesticated species and its wild relative. We analysed whole-genome sequences from >200 wolves and >100 dogs to study admixture in Fennoscandian wolf populations. A principal component analysis of genetic variation and admixture showed that wolves and dogs were well-separated, without evidence for introgression. Analyses of local ancestry revealed that wolves had <1% mixed ancestry, levels comparable to the degree of mixed ancestry in many dogs, and likely not resulting from recent wolf-dog hybridization. We also show that the founders of the Scandinavian wolf population were genetically inseparable from Finnish and Russian Karelian wolves, pointing at the geographical origin of contemporary Scandinavian wolves. Moreover, we found Scandinavian-born animals among wolves sampled in Finland, demonstrating bidirectional gene flow between the Scandinavian Peninsula and eastern countries. The low incidence of admixture between wolves and dogs in Fennoscandia may be explained by the fact that feral dogs are rare in this part of Europe and that careful monitoring and management act to remove hybrids before they backcross into wolf populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linnéa Smeds
- Department of Ecology and GeneticsUppsala UniversityUppsalaSweden
| | - Jouni Aspi
- Department of Ecology and GeneticsUniversity of OuluOuluFinland
| | - Jonas Berglund
- Department of Ecology and GeneticsUppsala UniversityUppsalaSweden
| | - Ilpo Kojola
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)RovaniemiFinland
| | - Konstantin Tirronen
- Institute of BiologyKarelian Research Centre of the Russian Academy of SciencePetrozavodskRussian Federation
| | - Hans Ellegren
- Department of Ecology and GeneticsUppsala UniversityUppsalaSweden
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Korablev MP, Korablev NP, Korablev PN. Genetic diversity and population structure of the grey wolf (Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758) and evidence of wolf × dog hybridisation in the centre of European Russia. Mamm Biol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-020-00074-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Species assignment in forensics and the challenge of hybrids. Forensic Sci Int Genet 2020; 48:102333. [PMID: 32615399 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2020.102333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Forensic identification of species is in growing demand, particularly from law enforcement authorities in the areas of wildlife, fisheries and hunting as well as food authentication. Within the non-human forensic genetics expanding applications' field, the major current difficulties result from the lack of standards and genetic databases as well as the poor or absent taxonomic definition of several groups. Here we focus on a forensically important and overlooked problem in species identification: the exclusive use of uniparental markers, a common practice in current genetic barcoding methodologies, may lead to incorrect or impossible assignment whenever hybrids can occur (frequently, not only in domesticates, but also in the wild). For example, if one of these cases involves a mammal, and mitochondrial DNA alone is used (which in instances may be the only type of DNA sequence available in databases), the sample will be wrongfully assigned to the female parental species, completely missing the detection of a possible hybrid animal. The importance of this issue in the forensic contributions to food authentication, wildlife and conservation genetics is analyzed. We present a cautionary guidance on the forensic reporting of results avoiding this error.
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