Canid hybridization: contemporary evolution in human‐modified landscapes

Ecology and Evolution

Astrid V. Stronen⁷  Nathalie Tessier⁷  Hélène Jolicoeur⁸  Paul C. Paquet¹  Michel Hénault²  Mario Villemure⁵  Brent R. Patterson⁶  Tim Sallows³  Gloria Goulet⁴ 

[1]Raincoast Conservation Foundation, Denny Island, Canada

[2]Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune, Mont-Laurier, Québec, Canada

[3]Riding Mountain National Park, Wasagaming, Manitoba, Canada

[4]Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (retired)

[5]Parc national de la Mauricie, St-Mathieu-du-Parc, Québec, Canada

[6]Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Wildlife Research and Development Section, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

[7]Département de sciences biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada

[8]Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune, Québec, Québec, Canada (retired)

关键词: Allopatry;    Canis;    coyote;    hybridization;    sympatry;    wolf;   

DOI  :  10.1002/ece3.335

来源: Wiley

【 摘 要 】

Abstract

Contemporary evolution through human-induced hybridization occurs throughout the taxonomic range. Formerly allopatric species appear especially susceptible to hybridization. Consequently, hybridization is expected to be more common in regions with recent sympatry owing to human activity than in areas of historical range overlap. Coyotes ( Canis latrans) and gray wolves ( C. lupus) are historically sympatric in western North America. Following European settlement gray wolf range contracted, whereas coyote range expanded to include eastern North America. Furthermore, wolves with New World (NW) mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotypes now extend from Manitoba to Québec in Canada and hybridize with gray wolves and coyotes. Using mtDNA and 12 microsatellite markers, we evaluated levels of wolf-coyote hybridization in regions where coyotes were present (the Canadian Prairies, n = 109 samples) and absent historically (Québec, n = 154). Wolves with NW mtDNA extended from central Saskatchewan (51°N, 69°W) to northeastern Québec (54°N, 108°W). On the Prairies, 6.3% of coyotes and 9.2% of wolves had genetic profiles suggesting wolf-coyote hybridization. In contrast, 12.6% of coyotes and 37.4% of wolves in Québec had profiles indicating hybrid origin. Wolves with NW and Old World ( C. lupus) mtDNA appear to form integrated populations in both regions. Our results suggest that hybridization is more frequent in historically allopatric populations. Range shifts, now expected across taxa following climate change and other human influence on the environment, might therefore promote contemporary evolution by hybridization.

【 授权许可】

Unknown   
© 2012 The Authors. Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.