A wolf walks in the shallows, with a salmon in its mouth

Population genetic structure of gray wolves in a marine archipelago…

ByRaincoast

Journal Citation:  Astrid V Stronen, Erin L Navid, Michael S Quinn, Paul C Paquet±, Heather M Bryan±, and Christopher T Darimont+
Population genetic structure of gray wolves (Canis lupus) in a marine archipelago suggests island-mainland differentiation consistent with dietary niche

BMC Ecology 2014, 14:11  doi:10.1186/1472-6785-14-11

* Corresponding authors: Astrid V Stronen – Christopher T Darimont

 + Author Affiliation: Paul Paquet, Heather Bryan and Chris Darimont, Raincoast Conservation Foundation, PO Box 86 Denny Island, British Columbia V0T 1B0, Canada

Background

Emerging evidence suggests that ecological heterogeneity across space can influence the genetic structure of populations, including that of long-distance dispersers such as large carnivores. On the central coast of British Columbia, Canada, wolf (Canis lupus L., 1758) dietary niche and parasite prevalence data indicate strong ecological divergence between marine-oriented wolves inhabiting islands and individuals on the coastal mainland that interact primarily with terrestrial prey. Local holders of traditional ecological knowledge, who distinguish between mainland and island wolf forms, also informed our hypothesis that genetic differentiation might occur between wolves from these adjacent environments.

Results

We used microsatellite genetic markers to examine data obtained from wolf faecal samples. Our results from 116 individuals suggest the presence of a genetic cline between mainland and island wolves. This pattern occurs despite field observations that individuals easily traverse the 30 km wide study area and swim up to 13 km among landmasses in the region.

Conclusions

Natal habitat-biased dispersal (i.e., the preference for dispersal into familiar ecological environments) might contribute to genetic differentiation. Accordingly, this working hypothesis presents an exciting avenue for future research where marine resources or other components of ecological heterogeneity are present.

Keywords:

Canis lupus; Ecological divergence; Marine resources; Niche; Population genetic structure; Traditional ecological knowledge; Wolf

 

Author Affiliations

1 Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Waszkiewicza 1, Białowieża 17-230, Poland

2 Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Aalborg University, Sohngaardsholmsvej 57, Aalborg 9000, Denmark

3 Faculty of Environmental Design, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1 N4, Canada

4 Institute for Environmental Sustainability, Mount Royal University, 4825 Mount Royal Gate SW, Calgary, Alberta T3E 6 K6, Canada

5 Department of Geography, University of Victoria, PO Box 3060 STN CSC, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 3R4, Canada

6 Raincoast Conservation Foundation, PO Box 86 Denny Island, British Columbia V0T 1B0, Canada

7 Hakai Beach Institute, Box 309, Heriot Bay, British Columbia V0P 1H0, Canada

 

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