The Sicilian wolf: Genetic identity of a recently extinct insular population

AbstractDuring historical times many local grey wolf (Canis lupus) populations underwent a substantial reduction of their sizes or became extinct. Among these, the wolf population once living in Sicily, the biggest island of the Mediterranean Sea, was completely eradicated by human persecution in the early decades of the XX century.In order to understand the genetic identity of the Sicilian wolf, we applied ancient DNA techniques to analyse the mitochondrial DNA of six specimens actually stored in Italian museums.We successfully amplified a diagnostic mtDNA fragment of the control region (CR) in four of the samples. Results showed that two samples shared the same haplotype, that differed by two substitutions from the currently most diffused Italian wolf haplotype (W14) and one substitution from the only other Italian haplotype (W16). The third sample showed a wolf-like haplotype never described before and the fourth a haplotype commonly found in dogs.Furthermore, all the wolf haplotypes detected in this study belonged to the mitochondrial haplogroup that includes haplotypes detected in all the known European Pleistocene wolves and in several modern southern European populations.Unfortunately, this endemic island population, bearing unique mtDNA variability, was definitively lost before it was possible to understand its taxonomic uniqueness and conservational value.

Download Full-text

Predation pressure of the grey wolf (Canis lupus L. 1758) on wild, domestic and companion animals in Poland

Medycyna Weterynaryjna ◽

10.21521/mw.6579 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 77 (10) ◽

pp. 6579-2021

Author(s):

KATARZYNA DZIKI-MICHALSKA ◽

KATARZYNA TAJCHMAN

Keyword(s):

Canis Lupus ◽

Companion Animals ◽

Companion Animal ◽

Predation Pressure ◽

Protection System ◽

Animal Population ◽

Grey Wolf ◽

Wolf Population ◽

Wild Ungulate ◽

The Relationship

The aim of this study was to determine the predation pressure of the grey wolf (Canis lupus) on wild ungulate populations and the relationship between the size of the grey wolf population and the number of confirmed kills of livestock and companion animals in Poland over eight hunting seasons from 2011/2012 to 2018/2019. There is a positive and complete relationship between the increasing wolf population and the number of confirmed deer kills. The size of the wolf population in Poland was compared to the size of domestic and companion animal population and the number of specimens that fell prey to the grey wolf. It was demonstrated that as the wolf population in Poland increases, the number of confirmed kills of farm and companion animals rises. It seems rational to take steps aimed at mitigating this problem as soon as possible. It is necessary to consider implementation of an integrated protection system that involves culling and employing available methods to deter wolves from attacking grazing herds.

Download Full-text

High genetic diversity of immunity genes in an expanding population of a highly mobile carnivore, the grey wolf Canis lupus , in Central Europe

Diversity and Distributions ◽

10.1111/ddi.13360 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Agnieszka Kloch ◽

Aleksandra Biedrzycka ◽

Maciej Szewczyk ◽

Sabina Nowak ◽

Natalia Niedźwiedzka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Central Europe ◽

Canis Lupus ◽

Grey Wolf ◽

High Genetic Diversity ◽

Immunity Genes ◽

Expanding Population

Download Full-text

The First Record of Echinococcus ortleppi (G5) Tapeworms in Grey Wolf (Canis lupus)

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10070853 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 853

Author(s):

Jacek Karamon ◽

Małgorzata Samorek-Pieróg ◽

Jacek Sroka ◽

Ewa Bilska-Zając ◽

Joanna Dąbrowska ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Small Intestine ◽

Molecular Identification ◽

Canis Lupus ◽

Sequence Comparison ◽

First Record ◽

Grey Wolf ◽

South Eastern ◽

Counting Technique ◽

Small Intestines ◽

First Time

The aim of this study is to confirm the presence and molecular identification of Echinococcus tapeworms in wolves from south-eastern Poland. An investigation was carried out on the intestines of 13 wolves from south-eastern Poland. The small intestines were divided into three equal segments. Each segment was separately examined using the sedimentation and counting technique (SCT). The detected Echinococcus tapeworms were isolated and identified by PCRs and sequencing (nad1 and cox1 genes). Additionally, DNA isolated from the feces of wolves positive for Echinococcus tapeworms was examined with two diagnostic PCRs. The intestines of one wolf were positive for E. granulosus s.l. when assessed by SCT; the intestine was from a six-year-old male wolf killed in a communication accident. We detected 61 adult tapeworms: 42 in the anterior, 14 in the middle, and 5 in the posterior parts of the small intestine. The PCRs conducted for cox1 and nad1 produced specific products. A sequence comparison with the GenBank database showed similarity to the deposited E. ortleppi (G5) sequences. An analysis of the available phylogenetic sequences showed very little variation within the species of E. ortleppi (G5), and identity ranged from 99.10% to 100.00% in the case of cox1 and from 99.04 to 100.00% in the case of nad1. One of the two diagnostic PCRs used and performed on the feces of Echinococcus-positive animals showed product specific for E. granulosus. This study showed the presence of adult E. ortleppi tapeworms in wolves for the first time.

Download Full-text

First wolves in Luxembourg since 1893, originating from the Alpine and Central European populations

Mammalia ◽

10.1515/mammalia-2020-0119 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Laurent Schley ◽

Marianne Jacobs ◽

Sebastian Collet ◽

Alexander Kristiansen ◽

Jan Herr

Keyword(s):

Canis Lupus ◽

Dna Analysis ◽

Carcass Characteristics ◽

Management Plan ◽

Apex Predator ◽

Grey Wolf ◽

Melting Pot ◽

Central European ◽

The Past ◽

Hard Evidence

Abstract Considering the spread of the grey wolf (Canis lupus) in Europe over the past 30 years, Luxembourg took some measures to prepare for the return of this apex predator, including the establishment of a management plan that notably addresses the issue of wolf depredation on livestock. Here we present the results of genetic analyses of putative wolf saliva, hair and scat samples collected from or near prey carcasses between 2015 and 2020. In two cases, the wolf was confirmed via DNA analysis: in July 2017 near Garnich and in April 2020 near Niederanven, both assigned to category C1 (hard evidence). A third case was classified as C2 (confirmed observation) based on prey carcass characteristics, while genetic analysis yielded no result. These are the first confirmed records of wolves in Luxemburg since 1893. Moreover, the two C1-cases originated from the Alpine (Garnich) and Central European (Niederanven) populations. Given similar developments in the neighboring countries and regions, we conclude that the area including the Benelux countries as well as Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland and Northern France may well become a melting pot for wolves of the two aforementioned populations in the coming years and decades.

Download Full-text

Gray Wolves, Canis lupus, Killed by Cougars, Puma concolor, and a Grizzly Bear, Ursus arctos, in Montana, Alberta, and Wyoming

The Canadian Field-Naturalist ◽

10.22621/cfn.v122i1.550 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 122 (1) ◽

pp. 76 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Michael D. Jimenez ◽

Valpa J. Asher ◽

Carita Bergman ◽

Edward E. Bangs ◽

Susannah P. Woodruff

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Canis Lupus ◽

Ursus Arctos ◽

Puma Concolor ◽

Western United States ◽

Grizzly Bear ◽

Grey Wolf ◽

Gray Wolves ◽

Large Predators

Four cases where large predators caused Grey Wolf (Canis lupus) mortality are recorded. We describe two incidents of Cougars (Puma concolar) killing Wolves in Montana and one incident of a Cougar killing a Wolf in Alberta. We report the first recorded incident of a Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos) killing a Wolf in the western United States.

Download Full-text

Seasonal Space Use and Movement of a Grey Wolf (Canis lupus) in a Protected Archipelago in Lake Superior, Ontario

The American Midland Naturalist ◽

10.1674/0003-0031-185.2.249 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 185 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Ashley A. D. Mclaren ◽

Brent R. Patterson

Keyword(s):

Canis Lupus ◽

Lake Superior ◽

Space Use ◽

Grey Wolf

Download Full-text

Humanity’s Best Friend: A Dog-Centric Approach to Addressing Global Challenges

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10030502 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 502 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Naomi Sykes ◽

Piers Beirne ◽

Alexandra Horowitz ◽

Ione Jones ◽

Linda Kalof ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Sciences ◽

Canis Lupus ◽

Natural World ◽

Grey Wolf ◽

Cultural Complexity ◽

The Public ◽

Arts And Humanities ◽

Global Challenges ◽

Global Environmental ◽

Mutualistic Relationship

No other animal has a closer mutualistic relationship with humans than the dog (Canis familiaris). Domesticated from the Eurasian grey wolf (Canis lupus), dogs have evolved alongside humans over millennia in a relationship that has transformed dogs and the environments in which humans and dogs have co-inhabited. The story of the dog is the story of recent humanity, in all its biological and cultural complexity. By exploring human-dog-environment interactions throughout time and space, it is possible not only to understand vital elements of global history, but also to critically assess our present-day relationship with the natural world, and to begin to mitigate future global challenges. In this paper, co-authored by researchers from across the natural and social sciences, arts and humanities, we argue that a dog-centric approach provides a new model for future academic enquiry and engagement with both the public and the global environmental agenda.

Download Full-text

230 Cryopreservation for Canis lupus conservation: Evaluating protocols to freeze grey wolf testicular tissue

Reproduction Fertility and Development ◽

10.1071/rdv32n2ab230 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 32 (2) ◽

pp. 243

Author(s):

C. Andrae ◽

M. Ferraz ◽

N. Songsasen ◽

J. Nagashima

Keyword(s):

Liquid Nitrogen ◽

Sertoli Cells ◽

Canis Lupus ◽

Testicular Tissue ◽

Wilcoxon Test ◽

Cell Populations ◽

Control Group ◽

Grey Wolf ◽

Tissue Samples ◽

Abnormal Cells

Because of the severe decline in grey wolf (Canis lupus) abundance, preservation of genetic diversity within the species is essential to prevent inbreeding depression. Cryopreservation is a valuable tool in endangered species conservation, because it allows genetic material to be rescued from rare individuals for future use. The ability to preserve gonadal tissue is particularly useful in seasonal breeders, such as grey wolves, when mature gametes are not available during the non-breeding season. Optimization of species-specific cryopreservation protocols is necessary due to the toxicity of cryoprotectants. Here, we aimed to investigate three protocols to cryopreserve grey wolf testicular tissue, as a model for endangered canid species. Testicular tissue samples from four adult grey wolves were obtained and cryopreserved using slow-freezing (SF) and needle vitrification (nVT) techniques. Slow-frozen samples were exposed to 15% dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) or 7.5% DMSO + 7.5% ethylene glycol (EG) in minimum essential medium (MEM) at room temperature, placed in a Mr. Frosty Freezing Container (Thermo Fisher Scientific) and cooled to −80°C overnight, before storage in liquid nitrogen. Needle-vitrified samples were equilibrated in a 7.5% DMSO + 7.5% EG solution in MEM for 10min at 4°C, then treated with 15% DMSO + 15% EG + 0.5M sucrose for 10min at 4°C before plunging into liquid nitrogen. Each sample was thawed using serial dilutions of sucrose (1, 0.5, and 0.25) into MEM at 37°C for 5min each, fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde, and embedded in paraffin wax. Five-micron-thick cross-sections of tissue samples were stained using haematoxylin and eosin. Tubule areas and quantity of each cell type (Sertoli cells, spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids, and abnormal cells) were recorded and compared with a fresh control group for each wolf. Cell populations and tubule areas were analysed using a nonparametric Wilcoxon test through JMP statistical software (SAS Institute Inc.), and are presented as means±standard deviations. There was no difference in tubule areas between the treatment groups (fresh=5200±2870, nVT=5655±2370, SF DMSO=3607±814, SF DMSO+EG=3905±1450µm2; P>0.05). Although there was an increase in abnormal cells/tubule area (µm2) for nVT, SF DMSO, and SF DMSO+EG compared with the fresh samples (0.0015±0.0014, 0.0014±0.0013, 0.0016±0.0011, and 0.0007±0.0004, respectively; P>0.05), differences were not statistically significant. Moreover, the number of Sertoli cells, spermatogonia, and spermatocytes were reduced in the cryopreserved groups compared with fresh tissues, but the differences were not statistically different (P>0.05). The data suggest that the three tested protocols preserved testicular structure and cell populations of cryopreserved testicular tissue and could be useful in the genetic preservation of grey wolves.

Download Full-text