scholarly journals Reviving ghost alleles: Genetically admixed coyotes along the American Gulf Coast are critical for saving the endangered red wolf

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bridgett vonHoldt ◽  
Joseph Hinton ◽  
Amy Shutt ◽  
Jennifer Adams ◽  
Lisette Waits ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Captive Breeding ◽  
Gulf Coast ◽  
Breeding Population ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Species Persistence ◽  
Red Wolf ◽  
Captive Breeding Program ◽  
Innovative Solutions ◽  
Red Wolves

The last red wolves were captured along the Gulf Coast in 1980, where they hybridized with coyote, to establish the captive breeding population. However, red wolf ancestry persists in local coyotes and could be leveraged by genomic innovations to support species persistence. We assessed genomic ancestry and morphology of coyotes in southwestern Louisiana, and find they carried 38-62% red wolf ancestry acquired in the last 30 years, which is enriched on land with minimal coyote hunting. These coyotes were also similar in ancestry to canids captured in the 1970s that initiated the red wolf captive breeding program. Further, we reported that coyotes with higher red wolf ancestry are larger in size. Our findings evidence the importance of hybrids as a reservoir of endangered species ancestry for contemporary conservation efforts. Admixed genomes are at the forefront of innovative solutions, with red wolf survival a prime candidate for this new paradigm.

scholarly journals Rediscovery of Red Wolf Ghost Alleles in a Canid Population Along the American Gulf Coast

Genes ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 618 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Heppenheimer ◽  
Kristin Brzeski ◽  
Ron Wooten ◽  
William Waddell ◽  
Linda Rutledge ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North Carolina ◽  
Gulf Coast ◽  
Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽  
Conservation Action ◽  
Single Nucleotide ◽  
Red Wolf ◽  
Reintroduced Population ◽  
Coastal Louisiana ◽  
Red Wolves ◽  
Bayesian Cluster

Rediscovering species once thought to be extinct or on the edge of extinction is rare. Red wolves have been extinct along the American Gulf Coast since 1980, with their last populations found in coastal Louisiana and Texas. We report the rediscovery of red wolf ghost alleles in a canid population on Galveston Island, Texas. We analyzed over 7000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 60 canid representatives from all legally recognized North American Canis species and two phenotypically ambiguous canids from Galveston Island. We found notably high Bayesian cluster assignments of the Galveston canids to captive red wolves with extensive sharing of red wolf private alleles. Today, the only known extant wild red wolves persist in a reintroduced population in North Carolina, which is dwindling amongst political and taxonomic controversy. Our rediscovery of red wolf ancestry after almost 40 years introduces both positive opportunities for additional conservation action and difficult policy challenges.

Pyospermia and spermophagy in semen of the red wolf

1993 ◽  
Vol 51 ◽  
pp. 332-333
Author(s):  
James K. Koehler ◽  
Carrol C. Platz ◽  
Will Waddell ◽  
Michael H. Jones
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Endangered Species ◽  
Artificial Insemination ◽  
Captive Breeding ◽  
Southeastern United States ◽  
Electron Microscopic Examination ◽  
Electron Microscopic ◽  
Canis Rufus ◽  
Red Wolf ◽  
In The Wild

The red wolf (Canis rufus) inhabited the Southeastern United States until the early 1900's when aggressive hunting and a shrinking primitive habitat virtually eradicated the species. C. rufus was certified as an endangered species in 1967 and was essentially extinct in the wild by 1980. About 200 animals are preserved in zoos and captive breeding facilities where efforts are underway to increase the stock. Since a shrinking gene pool and captive stress may reduce reproductive vigor, we undertook an electron microscopic examination of red wolf semen used for artificial insemination at the Graham, WA breeding facility of the Point Defiance Zoo.Animals were anesthetized with 175 mg. Telazol, IM before electroejaculation using a rectal probe Semen was washed in PBS prior to fixation in 1.25% glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M cacodylate, post fixed in OsO4, dehydrated in alcohol and propylene oxide and embedded in Epon 812. Some samples were incubated in capacitation or maintenance media for several hours before fixation as above.

Changes in the reproductive behaviour of the endangered Newfoundland marten (Martes americana atrata): implications for captive breeding programs

2001 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 149-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel P Heath ◽  
Donald W McKay ◽  
Mac O Pitcher ◽  
Anne E Storey
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Captive Breeding ◽  
Scent Marking ◽  
Reproductive Behaviour ◽  
Receptive Female ◽  
Martes Americana ◽  
Breeding Programs ◽  
Captive Breeding Program ◽  
Behavioural Interactions ◽  
Captive Breeding Programs

Behavioural changes associated with reproduction were studied in captive Newfoundland martens (Martes americana atrata), an endangered species. Patterns of scent-marking and behavioural interactions were recorded before and after a male was introduced to two females. After introduction of the male, marking by the receptive female increased, whereas the nonreceptive female marked less and became less active. Activity and marking bouts were significantly correlated throughout the day for the male and the receptive female, and they often marked in the same locations. The male marked more frequently when the receptive female was active and the female's marking was often associated with behavioural interactions. These findings suggest a major female influence on male marking and activity and suggest that marking may facilitate social interaction. In the spring following this study, the receptive female successfully whelped a litter, the first to be conceived and born in this captive breeding program. The results of this study may help establish successful protocols for captive breeding programs, and thus aid efforts to conserve this endangered species.

scholarly journals Managing hybridization of a recovering endangered species: The red wolf Canis rufus as a case study

2015 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 191-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric M. Gese ◽  
Fred F. Knowlton ◽  
Jennifer R. Adams ◽  
Karen Beck ◽  
Todd K. Fuller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Adaptive Management ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Wolf Population ◽  
Canis Rufus ◽  
Unique Challenge ◽  
Species Recovery ◽  
Red Wolf ◽  
Red Wolves

Abstract Hybridization presents a unique challenge for conservation biologists and managers. While hybridization is an important evolutionary process, hybridization is also a threat formany native species. The endangered species recovery effort for the red wolf Canis rufus is a classic system for understanding and addressing the challenges of hybridization. From 1987?1993, 63 red wolves were released from captivity in eastern North Carolina, USA, to establish a free-ranging, non-essential experimental population. By 1999, managers recognized hybridization with invasive coyotes Canis latrans was the single greatest threat to successful recovery, and an adaptive management plan was adopted with innovative approaches for managing the threat of hybridization. Here we review the application and results of the adaptive management efforts from 1993 to 2013 by comparing: (1) the numbers of wolves, coyotes, and hybrids captured, (2) the numbers of territorial social groups with presumed breeding capabilities, (3) the number of red wolf and hybrid litters documented each year and (4) the degree of coyote introgression into the wild red wolf gene pool. We documented substantial increases in the number of known red wolves and red wolf social groups from 1987–2004 followed by a plateau and slight decline by 2013.The number of red wolf litters exceeded hybrid litters each year and the proportion of hybrid litters per year averaged 21%. The genetic composition of the wild red wolf population is estimated to include < 4% coyote ancestry from recent introgression since reintroduction. We conclude that the adaptive management plan was effective at reducing the introgression of coyote genes into the red wolf population, but population recovery of red wolves will require continuation of the current management plan, or alternative approaches, for the foreseeable future. More broadly, we discuss the lessons learned from red wolf adaptive management that could assist other endangered species recovery efforts facing the challenge of minimizing hybridization.

Reproduction of the numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus): observations from a captive breeding program

2009 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vicki Power ◽  
Cathy Lambert ◽  
Phillip Matson
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Significant Contribution ◽  
Captive Breeding ◽  
Breeding Program ◽  
Secondary Sexual Characteristics ◽  
Captive Breeding Program ◽  
Sexual Characteristics ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Secondary Sexual

Captive breeding and reintroduction programs are making a significant contribution to the survival of several endangered species. We demonstrated that the numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus) can be maintained within a captive breeding program at Perth Zoo, Australia, for the purposes of release. We found that females have one litter per year but can be mated two or three times in the breeding season if they fail to conceive or lose their young. The mean (±s.e.m.) interval between mating in polyoestrous females is 25.2 ± 1.6 days. Males show spermatorrhoea with development of secondary sexual characteristics in the breeding season between November and late February.

scholarly journals Rediscovery of red wolf ghost alleles in a canid population along the American Gulf Coast

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Heppenheimer ◽  
Kristin E. Brzeski ◽  
Ron Wooten ◽  
Will Waddell ◽  
Linda Y. Rutledge ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North Carolina ◽  
Gulf Coast ◽  
Conservation Action ◽  
Red Wolf ◽  
Reintroduced Population ◽  
Coastal Louisiana ◽  
Gulf Coast Region ◽  
Red Wolves ◽  
Bayesian Cluster ◽  
Coast Region

AbstractRediscovering species once thought to be extinct or on the edge of extinction is rare. Red wolves have been extinct along the Gulf Coast region since 1980, with their last populations found in coastal Louisiana and Texas. We report the rediscovery of red wolf ghost alleles in a canid population on Galveston Island, Texas. We analyzed over 7,000 SNPs in 60 canid representatives from all legally recognized North American Canis species and two phenotypically ambiguous canids from Galveston Island. We found notably high Bayesian cluster assignments of the Galveston canids to captive red wolves with extensive sharing of red wolf private alleles. Today, the only known extant wild red wolves persist in a reintroduced population in North Carolina, which is dwindling amongst political and taxonomic controversy. Our rediscovery of red wolf ancestry after almost 40 years introduces both positive opportunities for additional conservation action and difficult policy challenges.

scholarly journals Persistence and expansion of cryptic endangered red wolf genomic ancestry along the American Gulf coast

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bridgett M. vonHoldt ◽  
Kristin E. Brzeski ◽  
Matthew L. Aardema ◽  
Christopher Schell ◽  
Linda Y. Rutledge ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Coast ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Genetic Rescue ◽  
Recombination Rates ◽  
Red Wolf ◽  
The Past ◽  
Genomic Landscape ◽  
Theoretical Predictions ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Red Wolves

AbstractAdmixture and introgression play a critical role in adaptation and genetic rescue that has only recently gained a deeper appreciation. Here, we explored the geographic and genomic landscape of cryptic ancestry of the endangered red wolf that persists within the genome of a ubiquitous sister taxon, the coyote, all the while the red wolf has been extinct in the wild since the early 1980s. We assessed admixture across 102,621 SNP loci genotyped in 293 canid genomes. We found support for increased red wolf ancestry along an east-to-west gradient across the southern United States that was associated with historical admixture in the past 100 years. Southwestern Louisiana and southeastern Texas, the geographic zone where the last red wolves were known prior to their extinction in the wild, contained the highest and oldest levels of red wolf ancestry. X-linked regions of low recombination rates were depleted of introgression, relative to the autosomes, suggestive of the large X effect and enrichment with loci involved in maintaining reproductive isolation. Recombination rate was positively correlated with red wolf ancestry across coyote genomes, consistent with theoretical predictions. The geographic and genomic extent of cryptic red wolf ancestry can provide novel and variable genomic resources for the survival of the endangered red wolf.

Analysis of gene origin in the first adult returns to the Cultus sockeye salmon captive breeding program

2011 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1469-1483 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth E. Withler ◽  
Robert H. Devlin ◽  
Steve Latham ◽  
Chris C. Wood ◽  
K. Janine Supernault
Keyword(s):  
Sockeye Salmon ◽  
Captive Breeding ◽  
Breeding Program ◽  
Captive Breeding Program ◽  
Gene Origin

scholarly journals Loss of Genetic Diversity with Captive Breeding and Re-Introduction: A Case Study on Pateke/Brown Teal (Anas chlorotis)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Gemma Bowker-Wright
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
Captive Breeding ◽  
Barrier Island ◽  
Breeding Population ◽  
Island Population ◽  
Wildlife Sanctuary ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Introduced Populations ◽  
Loss Of Genetic Diversity

<p>Pateke/brown teal (Anas chlorotis) have experienced a severe population crash leaving only two remnant wild populations (at Great Barrier Island and Mimiwhangata, Northland). Recovery attempts over the last 35 years have focused on an intensive captive breeding programme which breeds pateke, sourced almost exclusively from Great Barrier Island, for release to establish re-introduced populations in areas occupied in the past. While this important conservation measure may have increased pateke numbers, it was unclear how much of their genetic diversity was being retained. The goal of this study was to determine current levels of genetic variation in the remnant, captive and re-introduced pateke populations using two types of molecular marker, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and microsatellite DNA. Feathers were collected from pateke at Great Barrier Island, Mimiwhangata, the captive breeding population and four re-introduced populations (at Moehau, Karori Wildlife Sanctuary, Tiritiri Matangi Island and Mana Island). DNA was extracted from the base of the feathers, the mitochondrial DNA control region was sequenced, and DNA microsatellite markers were used to genotype individuals. The Great Barrier Island population was found to have only two haplotypes, one in very high abundance which may indicate that historically this population was very small. The captive breeding population and all four re-introduced populations were found to contain only the abundant Great Barrier Island haplotype as the vast majority of captive founders were sourced from this location. In contrast, the Mimiwhangata population contained genetic diversity and 11 haplotypes were found, including the Great Barrier Island haplotype which may have been introduced by captive-bred releases which occurred until the early 1990s. From the microsatellite results, a loss of genetic diversity (measured as average alleles per locus, heterozygosity and allelic richness) was found from Great Barrier Island to captivity and from captivity to re-introduction. Overall genetic diversity within the re-introduced populations (particularly the smaller re-introduced populations at Karori Wildlife Sanctuary, Tiritiri Matangi Island and Mana Island) was much reduced compared with the remnant populations, most probably as a result of small release numbers and small population size. Such loss of genetic diversity could render the re-introduced populations more susceptible to inbreeding depression in the future. Suggested future genetic management options are included which aim for a broader representation of genetic diversity in the pateke captive breeding and release programme.</p>

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