Majority positive attitudes cannot protect red wolves (Canis rufus) from a minority willing to kill illegally

Captive breeding is used for the conservation of endangered species, but inbreeding can result when a small number of founders are used to establish populations. Inbreeding can reduce the proportion of normal sperm in an ejaculate, but may also have effects on sperm size and shape (morphometry). We investigated the effects of inbreeding on sperm morphometry of black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes (Audubon and Bachman, 1851)) and red wolves (Canis rufus Audubon and Bachman, 1851) from captive breeding programs to determine if more inbred males produced sperm of poor quality (bulky head, small midpiece, short tail). We measured sperm head length, head width, midpiece length, midpiece width, and tail length on 10 sperm from each male of both species. A negative relationship between variation in sperm tail length and inbreeding coefficient (f) was found in black-footed ferret, suggesting that more inbred individuals will have reduced genetic and phenotypic variation. Analyses indicated a negative relationship between sperm head width and f and a positive relationship between sperm tail length and f in red wolf, suggesting that more inbred male red wolves could have faster sperm. These results indicate that inbreeding affects functionally important aspects of sperm morphometry, but that these effects may not be entirely negative.

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DNA profiles of the eastern Canadian wolf and the red wolf provide evidence for a common evolutionary history independent of the gray wolf

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z00-158 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 78 (12) ◽

pp. 2156-2166 ◽

Cited By ~ 86

Author(s):

Paul J Wilson ◽

Sonya Grewal ◽

Ian D Lawford ◽

Jennifer NM Heal ◽

Angela G Granacki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Material ◽

Gray Wolf ◽

Canis Rufus ◽

Red Wolf ◽

The Subject ◽

The 1960S ◽

Original Species ◽

Dna Profiles ◽

Microsatellite Alleles ◽

Red Wolves

The origin and taxonomy of the red wolf (Canis rufus) have been the subject of considerable debate and it has been suggested that this taxon was recently formed as a result of hybridization between the coyote and gray wolf. Like the red wolf, the eastern Canadian wolf has been characterized as a small "deer-eating" wolf that hybridizes with coyotes (Canis latrans). While studying the population of eastern Canadian wolves in Algonquin Provincial Park we recognized similarities to the red wolf, based on DNA profiles at 8 microsatellite loci. We examined whether this relationship was due to similar levels of introgressed coyote genetic material by comparing the microsatellite alleles with those of other North American populations of wolves and coyotes. These analyses indicated that it was not coyote genetic material which led to the close genetic affinity between red wolves and eastern Canadian wolves. We then examined the control region of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and confirmed the presence of coyote sequences in both. However, we also found sequences in both that diverged by 150 000 - 300 000 years from sequences found in coyotes. None of the red wolves or eastern Canadian wolf samples from the 1960s contained gray wolf (Canis lupus) mtDNA sequences. The data are not consistent with the hypothesis that the eastern Canadian wolf is a subspecies of gray wolf as it is presently designated. We suggest that both the red wolf and the eastern Canadian wolf evolved in North America sharing a common lineage with the coyote until 150 000 - 300 000 years ago. We propose that it retain its original species designation, Canis lycaon.

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Using faecal DNA sampling and GIS to monitor hybridization between red wolves ( Canis rufus ) and coyotes ( Canis latrans )

Molecular Ecology ◽

10.1046/j.1365-294x.2003.01895.x ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 12 (8) ◽

pp. 2175-2186 ◽

Cited By ~ 85

Author(s):

J. R. Adams ◽

B. T. Kelly ◽

L. P. Waits

Keyword(s):

Canis Latrans ◽

Faecal Dna ◽

Canis Rufus ◽

Dna Sampling ◽

Red Wolves

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Cross-fostering as a conservation tool to augment endangered carnivore populations

Journal of Mammalogy ◽

10.1093/jmammal/gyy087 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 99 (5) ◽

pp. 1033-1041

Author(s):

Eric M Gese ◽

William T Waddell ◽

Patricia A Terletzky ◽

Chris F Lucash ◽

Scott R McLellan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Life Span ◽

Litter Size ◽

Average Life ◽

Canis Rufus ◽

Average Life Span ◽

Red Wolf ◽

In The Wild ◽

Red Wolves ◽

Cross Fostering

Abstract Cross-fostering offspring with nonbiological parents could prove useful to augment populations of endangered carnivores. We used cross-fostering to augment captive-born and wild-born litters for the endangered red wolf (Canis rufus). Between 1987 and 2016, 23 cross-fostering events occurred involving captive-born pups fostered into captive litters (n = 8 events) and captive-born pups fostered into wild recipient litters (n = 15 events). Percentage of pups surviving 3 and 12 months was 91.7% for captive-born pups fostered into captive recipient litters. For pups fostered into wild litters, percentage of pups surviving 5 months was > 94% among fostered pups (pups fostered into a wild red wolf litter or replaced a hybrid litter), pups in recipient litters (wild-born litters receiving fostered pups), and pups in control litters (wild-born litters not in a fostering event) when using pups with known fates. Including pups with unknown fates as deaths, percentage of pups surviving 5 months was > 54% among fostered pups, pups in recipient litters, and pups in control litters. Among wild litters, percentage of pups surviving 12 months was > 82% among fostered pups, pups in recipient litters, and pups in control litters when using pups with known fates. Including pups with unknown fates as deaths, percentage of pups surviving 12 months was > 48% among fostered pups, pups in recipient litters, and pups in control litters. Although survival to 12 months was similar among the groups, average life span was different with pups in control litters living 3.3 years, pups in recipient litters living 4.6 years, and fostered pups living 5.6 years. Of fostered pups surviving > 12 months in the wild, 9 animals whelped or sired 26 litters. Cross-fostering was successful at augmenting litter size for red wolves without any deleterious effects on recipient litters, illustrating fostering as a tool for increasing populations of endangered carnivores.

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MOLECULAR PREVALENCE OF SELECTED VECTOR-BORNE ORGANISMS IN CAPTIVE RED WOLVES (CANIS RUFUS)

Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine ◽

10.1638/2019-0162 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 51 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Jeffrey D. Tyrrell ◽

Barbara A. Qurollo ◽

Freya M. Mowat ◽

Suzanne Kennedy-Stoskopf

Keyword(s):

Canis Rufus ◽

Vector Borne ◽

Red Wolves

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Effects of inbreeding on reproductive success, performance, litter size, and survival in captive red wolves (Canis rufus)

Zoo Biology ◽

10.1002/zoo.20262 ◽

2009 ◽

pp. n/a-n/a ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

David R. Rabon ◽

William Waddell

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Success ◽

Litter Size ◽

Canis Rufus ◽

Red Wolves

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A gene expression signature of confinement in peripheral blood of red wolves (Canis rufus)

Molecular Ecology ◽

10.1111/j.1365-294x.2008.03775.x ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 17 (11) ◽

pp. 2782-2791 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

ERIN KENNERLY ◽

ANNE BALLMANN ◽

STANTON MARTIN ◽

RUSS WOLFINGER ◽

SIMON GREGORY ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Peripheral Blood ◽

Gene Expression Signature ◽

Canis Rufus ◽

Expression Signature ◽

Red Wolves

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Effects of age and experience on reproductive performance of captive red wolves (Canis rufus)

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/cjz-2013-0226 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 92 (3) ◽

pp. 251-258 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

David R. Rabon

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Success ◽

Sex Ratio ◽

Litter Size ◽

Sexual Experience ◽

Canis Rufus ◽

Breeding Experience ◽

Offspring Production ◽

Pup Survival ◽

Negative Effect ◽

Red Wolves

Propagation programs contribute to the conservation of a species by preserving genetic and demographic stock that may be used to reinforce or re-establish wild populations. Identifying traits that affect reproductive success is essential to achieve this goal. Longitudinal reproductive events of the captive population of endangered red wolves (Canis rufus Audubon and Bachman, 1851) were investigated to determine whether parental age, breeding experience, and rearing type were factors in reproduction, litter size, and sex ratio, as well as viability of offspring. Younger wolves were more likely to reproduce and produce larger litters than were older individuals. The age of the female, but not the male, had a negative effect on pup survival. Wolves that had prior experience in offspring production were more likely to reproduce again than were individuals that had no prior reproductive success, but prior sexual experience alone was not a factor in offspring production. Parental breeding experience had a negative effect on pup survival, but no apparent relationships with litter size or sex ratio. Declines in reproduction, fitness, and survival with advancing age suggest the effect is due to senescence, the onset of which occurs at 8 years of age in females. The results are consistent with the breeding-experience hypothesis.

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