Canid hybridization: contemporary evolution in human‐modified landscapes

• Published in: Ecology and evolution Vol. 2; no. 9; pp. 2128 - 2140
• Main Authors: Stronen, Astrid V., Tessier, Nathalie, Jolicoeur, Hélène, Paquet, Paul C., Hénault, Michel, Villemure, Mario, Patterson, Brent R., Sallows, Tim, Goulet, Gloria, Lapointe, François‐Joseph
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.09.2012; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Allopatric populations; Allopatry; Animal behavior; Canidae; Canis; Canis latrans; Canis lupus; Climate change; coyote; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; Evolution; Genetic markers; Haplotypes; Historical account; Human influences; Hybridization; Microsatellites; Mitochondrial DNA; Original Research; Populations; Prairies; Sympatric populations; Sympatry; wolf; Wolves; Canada; Manitoba Canada; United States > US; North America; Great Lakes area; sympatry; hybridization; wolf; Allopatry; Canis; coyote
• ISSN: 2045-7758; 2045-7758
• DOI: 10.1002/ece3.335

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. Formerly allopatric species appear especially susceptible to hybridization, and we evaluated levels of wolf‐coyote hybridization in regions where coyotes were present (the Canadian Prairies) and absent historically (Québec in eastern Canada). On the Prairies, 6.3% of coyotes and 9.2% of wolves had genetic profiles suggesting wolf‐coyote hybridization, whereas 12.6% of coyotes and 37.4% of wolves in Québec had profiles indicating hybrid origin. Our results suggest that hybridization is more frequent in historically allopatric populations, and range shifts, now expected across taxa following climate change and other human influence on the environment, might therefore promote contemporary evolution by hybridization.