Population structure and dispersal of wolves in the Canadian Rocky Mountains
In the Canadian Rocky Mountains, the gray wolf (Canis lupus) has experienced range contractions and expansions, which can greatly affect pack stability as well as population structure. In addition, this area has a highly heterogeneous landscape that may form barriers to dispersal. To understand fact...
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2016
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ftbioone:10.1093/jmammal/gyw015 2024-06-02T08:05:03+00:00 Population structure and dispersal of wolves in the Canadian Rocky Mountains Catherine I. Cullingham Conrad D. Thiessen Andrew E. Derocher Paul C. Paquet Joshua M. Miller Jill A. Hamilton David W. Coltman Catherine I. Cullingham Conrad D. Thiessen Andrew E. Derocher Paul C. Paquet Joshua M. Miller Jill A. Hamilton David W. Coltman world 2016-02-17 text/HTML https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyw015 en eng American Society of Mammalogists doi:10.1093/jmammal/gyw015 All rights reserved. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyw015 Text 2016 ftbioone https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyw015 2024-05-07T00:55:29Z In the Canadian Rocky Mountains, the gray wolf (Canis lupus) has experienced range contractions and expansions, which can greatly affect pack stability as well as population structure. In addition, this area has a highly heterogeneous landscape that may form barriers to dispersal. To understand factors affecting pack structure and large-scale gene flow across the Rocky Mountains, we examined wolf genetic structure using 1,981 noninvasive and invasively collected samples. We sampled over 44 packs in Alberta and British Columbia and, from these, identified 540 individuals based on 12 microsatellites. Relatedness of individuals within packs was greater than between packs, and female relatedness was greater than males suggesting strong pack structure and female philopatry. Relatedness within packs was greater near major roads suggesting decreased dispersal from natal packs with proximity to roads. Across the study area, 2 significantly differentiated genetic clusters were identified, corresponding to a north/south split. Landcover distance was a significant correlate for 2 of 4 genetic distance measures, where packs in the north were in areas of dense coniferous forest, while packs in the south were primarily in open coniferous forest. These landcover differences suggest natal associations or could relate to prey distribution. Fine-scale investigation of pack dynamics across this continuous distribution, together with large-scale estimators of population structure, highlights different drivers of gene flow at the pack and population level. Text Canis lupus gray wolf BioOne Online Journals Journal of Mammalogy 97 3 839 851 |
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In the Canadian Rocky Mountains, the gray wolf (Canis lupus) has experienced range contractions and expansions, which can greatly affect pack stability as well as population structure. In addition, this area has a highly heterogeneous landscape that may form barriers to dispersal. To understand factors affecting pack structure and large-scale gene flow across the Rocky Mountains, we examined wolf genetic structure using 1,981 noninvasive and invasively collected samples. We sampled over 44 packs in Alberta and British Columbia and, from these, identified 540 individuals based on 12 microsatellites. Relatedness of individuals within packs was greater than between packs, and female relatedness was greater than males suggesting strong pack structure and female philopatry. Relatedness within packs was greater near major roads suggesting decreased dispersal from natal packs with proximity to roads. Across the study area, 2 significantly differentiated genetic clusters were identified, corresponding to a north/south split. Landcover distance was a significant correlate for 2 of 4 genetic distance measures, where packs in the north were in areas of dense coniferous forest, while packs in the south were primarily in open coniferous forest. These landcover differences suggest natal associations or could relate to prey distribution. Fine-scale investigation of pack dynamics across this continuous distribution, together with large-scale estimators of population structure, highlights different drivers of gene flow at the pack and population level. |
author2 |
Catherine I. Cullingham Conrad D. Thiessen Andrew E. Derocher Paul C. Paquet Joshua M. Miller Jill A. Hamilton David W. Coltman |
format |
Text |
author |
Catherine I. Cullingham Conrad D. Thiessen Andrew E. Derocher Paul C. Paquet Joshua M. Miller Jill A. Hamilton David W. Coltman |
spellingShingle |
Catherine I. Cullingham Conrad D. Thiessen Andrew E. Derocher Paul C. Paquet Joshua M. Miller Jill A. Hamilton David W. Coltman Population structure and dispersal of wolves in the Canadian Rocky Mountains |
author_facet |
Catherine I. Cullingham Conrad D. Thiessen Andrew E. Derocher Paul C. Paquet Joshua M. Miller Jill A. Hamilton David W. Coltman |
author_sort |
Catherine I. Cullingham |
title |
Population structure and dispersal of wolves in the Canadian Rocky Mountains |
title_short |
Population structure and dispersal of wolves in the Canadian Rocky Mountains |
title_full |
Population structure and dispersal of wolves in the Canadian Rocky Mountains |
title_fullStr |
Population structure and dispersal of wolves in the Canadian Rocky Mountains |
title_full_unstemmed |
Population structure and dispersal of wolves in the Canadian Rocky Mountains |
title_sort |
population structure and dispersal of wolves in the canadian rocky mountains |
publisher |
American Society of Mammalogists |
publishDate |
2016 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyw015 |
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world |
genre |
Canis lupus gray wolf |
genre_facet |
Canis lupus gray wolf |
op_source |
https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyw015 |
op_relation |
doi:10.1093/jmammal/gyw015 |
op_rights |
All rights reserved. |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyw015 |
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Journal of Mammalogy |
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97 |
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3 |
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839 |
op_container_end_page |
851 |
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1800749789833330688 |