Ecological Factors Drive Differentiation in Wolves from British Columbia
Aim Limited population structure is predicted for vagile, generalist species, such as the grey wolf (Canis lupus L.). Our aims were to study how genetic variability of grey wolves was distributed in an area comprising different habitats that lay within the potential dispersal range of an individual...
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ftwellbeing:oai:www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org:popdhab-1006 2023-05-15T15:50:05+02:00 Ecological Factors Drive Differentiation in Wolves from British Columbia Muñoz-Fuentes, Violeta Darimont, Chris T. Wayne, Robert K. Paquet, Paul C. Leonard, Jennifer A. 2009-08-01T07:00:00Z https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/popdhab/7 http://digital.csic.es/bitstream/10261/61670/1/Biogeography.pdf unknown WBI Studies Repository https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/popdhab/7 http://digital.csic.es/bitstream/10261/61670/1/Biogeography.pdf Population Distribution and Habitat Collection Canis lupus conservation biogeography ESU faecal DNA GPS landscape genetics mitochondrial DNA museum specimens phylogeography wolf Animal Studies Environmental Studies Population Biology text 2009 ftwellbeing 2022-07-11T18:36:12Z Aim Limited population structure is predicted for vagile, generalist species, such as the grey wolf (Canis lupus L.). Our aims were to study how genetic variability of grey wolves was distributed in an area comprising different habitats that lay within the potential dispersal range of an individual and to make inferences about the impact of ecology on population structure. Location British Columbia, Canada – which is characterized by a continuum of biogeoclimatic zones across which grey wolves are distributed – and adjacent areas in both Canada and Alaska, United States. Methods We obtained mitochondrial DNA control region sequences from grey wolves from across the province and integrated our genetic results with data on phenotype, behaviour and ecology (distance, habitat and prey composition). We also compared the genetic diversity and differentiation of British Columbia grey wolves with those of other North American wolf populations. Results We found strong genetic differentiation between adjacent populations of grey wolves from coastal and inland British Columbia. We show that the most likely factor explaining this differentiation is habitat discontinuity between the coastal and interior regions of British Columbia, as opposed to geographic distance or physical barriers to dispersal. We hypothesize that dispersing grey wolves select habitats similar to the one in which they were reared, and that this differentiation is maintained largely through behavioural mechanisms. Main conclusions The identification of strong genetic structure on a scale within the dispersing capabilities of an individual suggests that ecological factors are driving wolf differentiation in British Columbia. Coastal wolves are highly distinct and representative of a unique ecosystem, whereas inland British Columbia grey wolves are more similar to adjacent populations of wolves located in Alaska, Alberta and Northwest Territories. Given their unique ecological, morphological, behavioural and genetic characteristics, grey wolves of coastal ... Text Canis lupus Northwest Territories Alaska WBI Studies Repository (WellBeing International) British Columbia ENVELOPE(-125.003,-125.003,54.000,54.000) Canada Northwest Territories |
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Open Polar |
collection |
WBI Studies Repository (WellBeing International) |
op_collection_id |
ftwellbeing |
language |
unknown |
topic |
Canis lupus conservation biogeography ESU faecal DNA GPS landscape genetics mitochondrial DNA museum specimens phylogeography wolf Animal Studies Environmental Studies Population Biology |
spellingShingle |
Canis lupus conservation biogeography ESU faecal DNA GPS landscape genetics mitochondrial DNA museum specimens phylogeography wolf Animal Studies Environmental Studies Population Biology Muñoz-Fuentes, Violeta Darimont, Chris T. Wayne, Robert K. Paquet, Paul C. Leonard, Jennifer A. Ecological Factors Drive Differentiation in Wolves from British Columbia |
topic_facet |
Canis lupus conservation biogeography ESU faecal DNA GPS landscape genetics mitochondrial DNA museum specimens phylogeography wolf Animal Studies Environmental Studies Population Biology |
description |
Aim Limited population structure is predicted for vagile, generalist species, such as the grey wolf (Canis lupus L.). Our aims were to study how genetic variability of grey wolves was distributed in an area comprising different habitats that lay within the potential dispersal range of an individual and to make inferences about the impact of ecology on population structure. Location British Columbia, Canada – which is characterized by a continuum of biogeoclimatic zones across which grey wolves are distributed – and adjacent areas in both Canada and Alaska, United States. Methods We obtained mitochondrial DNA control region sequences from grey wolves from across the province and integrated our genetic results with data on phenotype, behaviour and ecology (distance, habitat and prey composition). We also compared the genetic diversity and differentiation of British Columbia grey wolves with those of other North American wolf populations. Results We found strong genetic differentiation between adjacent populations of grey wolves from coastal and inland British Columbia. We show that the most likely factor explaining this differentiation is habitat discontinuity between the coastal and interior regions of British Columbia, as opposed to geographic distance or physical barriers to dispersal. We hypothesize that dispersing grey wolves select habitats similar to the one in which they were reared, and that this differentiation is maintained largely through behavioural mechanisms. Main conclusions The identification of strong genetic structure on a scale within the dispersing capabilities of an individual suggests that ecological factors are driving wolf differentiation in British Columbia. Coastal wolves are highly distinct and representative of a unique ecosystem, whereas inland British Columbia grey wolves are more similar to adjacent populations of wolves located in Alaska, Alberta and Northwest Territories. Given their unique ecological, morphological, behavioural and genetic characteristics, grey wolves of coastal ... |
format |
Text |
author |
Muñoz-Fuentes, Violeta Darimont, Chris T. Wayne, Robert K. Paquet, Paul C. Leonard, Jennifer A. |
author_facet |
Muñoz-Fuentes, Violeta Darimont, Chris T. Wayne, Robert K. Paquet, Paul C. Leonard, Jennifer A. |
author_sort |
Muñoz-Fuentes, Violeta |
title |
Ecological Factors Drive Differentiation in Wolves from British Columbia |
title_short |
Ecological Factors Drive Differentiation in Wolves from British Columbia |
title_full |
Ecological Factors Drive Differentiation in Wolves from British Columbia |
title_fullStr |
Ecological Factors Drive Differentiation in Wolves from British Columbia |
title_full_unstemmed |
Ecological Factors Drive Differentiation in Wolves from British Columbia |
title_sort |
ecological factors drive differentiation in wolves from british columbia |
publisher |
WBI Studies Repository |
publishDate |
2009 |
url |
https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/popdhab/7 http://digital.csic.es/bitstream/10261/61670/1/Biogeography.pdf |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-125.003,-125.003,54.000,54.000) |
geographic |
British Columbia Canada Northwest Territories |
geographic_facet |
British Columbia Canada Northwest Territories |
genre |
Canis lupus Northwest Territories Alaska |
genre_facet |
Canis lupus Northwest Territories Alaska |
op_source |
Population Distribution and Habitat Collection |
op_relation |
https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/popdhab/7 http://digital.csic.es/bitstream/10261/61670/1/Biogeography.pdf |
_version_ |
1766385079045586944 |