Genetic variability of the grey wolf Canis lupus in the Caucasus in comparison with Europe and the Middle East: distinct or intermediary population?
Despite continuous historical distribution of the grey wolf (Canis lupus) throughout Eurasia, the species displays considerable morphological differentiation that resulted in delimitation of a number of subspecies. However, these morphological discontinuities are not always consistent with patterns of genetic differentiation. Here we assess genetic distinctiveness of grey wolves from the Caucasus (a region at the border between Europe and West Asia) that have been classified as a distinct subspecies C. l. cubanensis. We analysed their genetic variability based on mtDNA control region, microsatellite loci and genome-wide SNP genotypes (obtained for a subset of the samples), and found similar or higher levels of genetic diversity at all these types of loci as compared with other Eurasian populations. Although we found no evidence for a recent genetic bottleneck, genome-wide linkage disequilibrium patterns suggest a long-term demographic decline in the Caucasian population--a trend consistent with other Eurasian populations. Caucasian wolves share mtDNA haplotypes with both Eastern European and West Asian wolves, suggesting past or ongoing gene flow. Microsatellite data also suggest gene flow between the Caucasus and Eastern Europe. We found evidence for moderate admixture between the Caucasian wolves and domestic dogs, at a level comparable with other Eurasian populations. Taken together, our results show that Caucasian wolves are not genetically isolated from other Eurasian populations, share with them the same demographic trends, and are affected by similar conservation problems.
School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool, Lincoln, United Kingdom.
Małgorzata
M
Pilot
Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warszawa, Poland; Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Michał J
MJ
Dąbrowski
Stepanakert Branch of the Armenian National Agrarian University, Stepanakert, Armenia.
Vahram
V
Hayrapetyan
Scientific Centre of Zoology and Hydroecology, National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, Yerevan, Armenia.
Eduard G
EG
Yavruyan
Institute of Ecology, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia.
Natia
N
Kopaliani
BALKANI Wildlife Society, Sofia, Bulgaria.
Elena
E
Tsingarska
Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warszawa, Poland.
Barbara
B
Bujalska
Department of Animal Genetics, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland.
Stanisław
S
Kamiński
Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warszawa, Poland.
Wiesław
W
Bogdanowicz
D000818:Animals; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D005060:Europe; D005061:Europe, Eastern; D051456:Gene Flow; D056426:Genetic Loci; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005828:Genetics, Population; D006239:Haplotypes; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D008877:Middle East; D019596:Wolves / Q000235:genetics*
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial