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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Online Access: | https://ir.library.carleton.ca/pub/26105 https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyw015 |
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ftcarletonunivir:oai:carleton.ca:26105 2023-05-15T15:49:51+02:00 Population structure and dispersal of wolves in the Canadian Rocky Mountains Cullingham, (Catherine) Thiessen, C.D. (Conrad D.) Derocher, A.E. (Andrew E.) Paquet, P.C. (Paul C.) Miller, J.M. (Joshua M.) Hamilton, J.A. (Jill A.) Coltman, D.W. (David W.) 2016-06-09 https://ir.library.carleton.ca/pub/26105 https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyw015 en eng https://ir.library.carleton.ca/pub/26105 doi:10.1093/jmammal/gyw015 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Journal of Mammalogy vol. 97 no. 3, pp. 839-851 Canadian Rocky Mountains Canis lupus genetic structure gray Wolf population structure landscape genetics microsatellite info:eu-repo/semantics/article 2016 ftcarletonunivir https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyw015 2022-02-06T21:52:39Z 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. Article in Journal/Newspaper Canis lupus gray wolf Carleton University's Institutional Repository Journal of Mammalogy 97 3 839 851 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Carleton University's Institutional Repository |
op_collection_id |
ftcarletonunivir |
language |
English |
topic |
Canadian Rocky Mountains Canis lupus genetic structure gray Wolf population structure landscape genetics microsatellite |
spellingShingle |
Canadian Rocky Mountains Canis lupus genetic structure gray Wolf population structure landscape genetics microsatellite Cullingham, (Catherine) Thiessen, C.D. (Conrad D.) Derocher, A.E. (Andrew E.) Paquet, P.C. (Paul C.) Miller, J.M. (Joshua M.) Hamilton, J.A. (Jill A.) Coltman, D.W. (David W.) Population structure and dispersal of wolves in the Canadian Rocky Mountains |
topic_facet |
Canadian Rocky Mountains Canis lupus genetic structure gray Wolf population structure landscape genetics microsatellite |
description |
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. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Cullingham, (Catherine) Thiessen, C.D. (Conrad D.) Derocher, A.E. (Andrew E.) Paquet, P.C. (Paul C.) Miller, J.M. (Joshua M.) Hamilton, J.A. (Jill A.) Coltman, D.W. (David W.) |
author_facet |
Cullingham, (Catherine) Thiessen, C.D. (Conrad D.) Derocher, A.E. (Andrew E.) Paquet, P.C. (Paul C.) Miller, J.M. (Joshua M.) Hamilton, J.A. (Jill A.) Coltman, D.W. (David W.) |
author_sort |
Cullingham, (Catherine) |
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 |
publishDate |
2016 |
url |
https://ir.library.carleton.ca/pub/26105 https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyw015 |
genre |
Canis lupus gray wolf |
genre_facet |
Canis lupus gray wolf |
op_source |
Journal of Mammalogy vol. 97 no. 3, pp. 839-851 |
op_relation |
https://ir.library.carleton.ca/pub/26105 doi:10.1093/jmammal/gyw015 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyw015 |
container_title |
Journal of Mammalogy |
container_volume |
97 |
container_issue |
3 |
container_start_page |
839 |
op_container_end_page |
851 |
_version_ |
1766384868036444160 |