scholarly journals Wolf body mass cline across Minnesota related to taxonomy?

2008 ◽  
Vol 86 (8) ◽  
pp. 933-936 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. David Mech ◽  
William J. Paul
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Canis Lupus ◽  
Canis Rufus ◽  
Genetic Studies ◽  
Eastern Wolf ◽  
Canis Lycaon

Recent genetic studies suggest that in northern Minnesota two species of wolves (Canis lupus L., 1758 or western wolf and Canis lycaon Schreber, 1775 (= Canis rufus Audubon and Bachman, 1851) or eastern wolf) meet and hybridize. However, little morphological information is available about these two types of wolves in Minnesota. We analyzed the mass of 950 female wolves and 1006 males older than 1 year from across northern Minnesota and found that it increased from 26.30 ± 0.56 kg (mean ± SE) for females and 30.60 ± 0.72 kg for males in northeastern Minnesota to 30.01 ± 0.43 kg for females and 35.94 ± 0.45 kg for males in northwestern Minnesota (females: r2 = 0.79, P < 0.02; males: r2 = 0.63, P = 0.06). These mass differences add morphological information to the identities of eastern and western wolves and support the view that ranges of the two species meet in Minnesota.

Wolf body mass, skull morphology, and mitochondrial DNA haplotypes in the Riding Mountain National Park region of Manitoba, Canada

2010 ◽  
Vol 88 (5) ◽  
pp. 496-507 ◽  
Author(s):  
Astrid V. Stronen ◽  
Graham J. Forbes ◽  
Tim Sallows ◽  
Gloria Goulet ◽  
Marco Musiani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
Great Lakes ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Canis Lupus ◽  
National Park ◽  
Skull Morphology ◽  
Eastern Canada ◽  
Riding Mountain National Park ◽  
Canis Lycaon ◽  
Provincial Park

Two types of wolves, gray ( Canis lupus L., 1758) and eastern ( Canis lupus lycaon Schreber, 1775 or Canis lycaon ) or Great Lakes wolves, representing Old World (OW) and New World (NW) mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotypes, have been reported in eastern Canada and the Great Lakes region. Both haplotypes were found in Duck Mountain Provincial Park and Forest, Manitoba. Only OW haplotypes have been reported from the isolated Riding Mountain National Park (RMNP), 30 km to the south. Wolves with NW haplotypes hybridize with C. lupus and coyotes ( Canis latrans Say, 1823) and could mediate gene flow between canids. We examined available data on wolf body mass, skull morphology, and mtDNA from the RMNP region, as well as mtDNA from Manitoba and Saskatchewan, to assess the occurrence of NW haplotypes in wolves and possible canid hybridization. Mean body mass of female (n = 54) and male (n = 42) RMNP wolves during 1985–1987 was higher than that of females (n = 12) and males (n = 8) during 1999–2004. Thirteen skull measures from 29 wolf skulls did not suggest significant differences between RMNP and Duck Mountain wolves. Nineteen of 20 RMNP samples had OW haplotypes, whereas one clustered together with NW haplotypes.

scholarly journals An Account of the Taxonomy of North American Wolves From Morphological and Genetic Analyses

2012 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven M. Chambers ◽  
Steven R. Fain ◽  
Bud Fazio ◽  
Michael Amaral
Keyword(s):  
North American ◽  
Canis Lupus ◽  
Microsatellite Dna ◽  
Genetic Data ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Gray Wolf ◽  
Eastern Canada ◽  
Canis Rufus ◽  
Eastern Wolf

Abstract The available scientific literature was reviewed to assess the taxonomic standing of North American wolves, including subspecies of the gray wolf, Canis lupus. The recent scientific proposal that the eastern wolf, C. l. lycaon, is not a subspecies of gray wolf, but a full species, Canis lycaon, is well-supported by both morphological and genetic data. This species' range extends westward to Minnesota, and it hybridizes with gray wolves where the two species are in contact in eastern Canada and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Genetic data support a close relationship between eastern wolf and red wolf Canis rufus, but do not support the proposal that they are the same species; it is more likely that they evolved independently from different lineages of a common ancestor with coyotes. The genetic distinctiveness of the Mexican wolf Canis lupus baileyi supports its recognition as a subspecies. The available genetic and morphometric data do not provide clear support for the recognition of the Arctic wolf Canis lupus arctos, but the available genetic data are almost entirely limited to one group of genetic markers (microsatellite DNA) and are not definitive on this question. Recognition of the northern timber wolf Canis lupus occidentalis and the plains wolf Canis lupus nubilus as subspecies is supported by morphological data and extensive studies of microsatellite DNA variation where both subspecies are in contact in Canada. The wolves of coastal areas in southeastern Alaska and British Columbia should be assigned to C. lupus nubilus. There is scientific support for the taxa recognized here, but delineation of exact geographic boundaries presents challenges. Rather than sharp boundaries between taxa, boundaries should generally be thought of as intergrade zones of variable width.

scholarly journals A GENETIC ASSESSMENT OF THE EASTERN WOLF (CANIS LYCAON) IN ALGONQUIN PROVINCIAL PARK

2004 ◽  
Vol 85 (4) ◽  
pp. 625-632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonya K. Grewal ◽  
PaulJ. Wilson ◽  
Tabitha K. Kung ◽  
Karmi Shami ◽  
Mary T. Theberge ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Wolf ◽  
Canis Lycaon ◽  
Genetic Assessment ◽  
Provincial Park

Mitochondrial DNA extracted from eastern North American wolves killed in the 1800s is not of gray wolf origin

2003 ◽  
Vol 81 (5) ◽  
pp. 936-940 ◽  
Author(s):  
P J Wilson ◽  
S Grewal ◽  
T McFadden ◽  
R C Chambers ◽  
B N White
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
North American ◽  
Canis Lupus ◽  
New York State ◽  
Geographic Region ◽  
Gray Wolf ◽  
Canis Rufus ◽  
Upper Great Lakes ◽  
Red Wolf

We analysed the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from two historical samples of eastern North American wolves: the last wolf reported to have been killed in northern New York State (ca. 1890s) and a wolf killed in Maine in the 1880s. These wolves represent eastern wolves, presently classified as the gray wolf (Canis lupus) subspecies Canis lupus lycaon, which were present well before the expansion of western coyotes (Canis latrans) into these regions. We show the absence of gray wolf mtDNA in these wolves. They both contain New World mtDNA, supporting previous findings of a North American evolution of the eastern timber wolf (originally classified as Canis lycaon) and red wolf (Canis rufus) independently of the gray wolf, which originated in Eurasia. The presence of a second wolf species in North America has important implications for the conservation and management of wolves. In the upper Great Lakes region, wolves of both species may exist in sympatry or interbreed with each other, which impacts the accuracy of estimates of numbers of wolves of each species within this geographic region. Furthermore, the historical distribution of the eastern timber wolf (C. lycaon), as revealed by these skin samples, has important implications for the reintroduction of wolves into the northeastern U.S. states, such as New York and Maine.

scholarly journals Population Genomic Analysis of North American Eastern Wolves (Canis lycaon) Supports Their Conservation Priority Status

Genes ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 606 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Heppenheimer ◽  
Ryan J. Harrigan ◽  
Linda Y. Rutledge ◽  
Klaus-Peter Koepfli ◽  
Alexandra L. DeCandia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Population Genomics ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Genetic Material ◽  
Genomic Analysis ◽  
Single Nucleotide ◽  
Gray Wolves ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Eastern Wolf ◽  
Canis Lycaon

The threatened eastern wolf is found predominantly in protected areas of central Ontario and has an evolutionary history obscured by interbreeding with coyotes and gray wolves, which challenges its conservation status and subsequent management. Here, we used a population genomics approach to uncover spatial patterns of variation in 281 canids in central Ontario and the Great Lakes region. This represents the first genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) dataset with substantial sample sizes of representative populations. Although they comprise their own genetic cluster, we found evidence of eastern wolf dispersal outside of the boundaries of protected areas, in that the frequency of eastern wolf genetic variation decreases with increasing distance from provincial parks. We detected eastern wolf alleles in admixed coyotes along the northeastern regions of Lake Huron and Lake Ontario. Our analyses confirm the unique genomic composition of eastern wolves, which are mostly restricted to small fragmented patches of protected habitat in central Ontario. We hope this work will encourage an innovative discussion regarding a plan for managed introgression, which could conserve eastern wolf genetic material in any genome regardless of their potential mosaic ancestry composition and the habitats that promote them.

Genetic and morphological differentiation of wolves (Canis lupus) and coyotes (Canis latrans) in northeastern Ontario

2012 ◽  
Vol 90 (10) ◽  
pp. 1221-1230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyler J. Wheeldon ◽  
Brent R. Patterson
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Canis Lupus ◽  
Management Strategy ◽  
Canis Latrans ◽  
Morphological Differentiation ◽  
Northeastern United States ◽  
Full Extent ◽  
Gray Wolves ◽  
Biological Population ◽  
Canis Lycaon

Gray wolves ( Canis lupus L., 1758), eastern wolves ( Canis lycaon Schreber, 1775), and coyotes ( Canis latrans Say, 1823) are presently managed as a single biological population in primary wolf range in Ontario with the intent of minimizing incidental harvest of wolves. This management strategy is based on the assumption that wolves and coyotes cannot be reliably distinguished because of hybridization, and the resulting restrictions on coyote harvest are unpopular with hunters and farmers. We genetically and morphologically characterized a sample of sympatric wolves and coyotes harvested in the Lesser Clay Belt area of northeastern Ontario in 2006–2009 to test the hypothesis that these species cannot be reliably distinguished. We found that wolves and coyotes were genetically and morphologically distinct, with minimal hybridization between them. Our findings suggest that wolves and coyotes in the sampled area can be reliably distinguished, but further sampling is required to determine the full extent of areas in Ontario where wolves and coyotes are reliably distinguishable. We discuss unresolved issues regarding the feasibility of separate management for these species. We also discuss implications of our findings regarding wolf recovery in the northeastern United States.

Fetal development in wolves, Canis lupus, of the Keewatin District, Northwest Territories, Canada

1996 ◽  
Vol 74 (12) ◽  
pp. 2211-2218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracy L. Hillis ◽  
Frank F. Mallory
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Northwest Territories ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Canis Lupus ◽  
Fetal Development ◽  
Morphological Features ◽  
Contour Length ◽  
Morphological Parameters ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
Gravid Females

Of 205 female wolves (Canis lupus) shot by Inuit hunters between 1987 and 1989 in the Keewatin District, Northwest Territories, Canada, 97 were parous, and 16 gravid females carried 73 identifiable fetuses. Fetuses grew at a mean rate of 5.17 g/day between day 32 post coitus and parturition. During the same period, fetuses increased in length at a mean rate of 0.204 cm/day. No significant sexual dimorphism in body mass or other morphological features was found at this stage of development. Cranio-caudal length ranged from 3 mm shortly after implantation to approximately 185 mm at parturition. All correlations of morphological parameters with cranio-caudal length were significant, and with the exception of humerus length and contour length, all parameters increased faster than cranio-caudal length. The results are discussed in relation to reproductive and developmental strategies in canids.

Moose (Alces alces) predation by eastern coyotes (Canis latrans) and eastern coyote × eastern wolf (Canis latrans × Canis lycaon) hybrids

2013 ◽  
Vol 91 (11) ◽  
pp. 837-841 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.F. Benson ◽  
B.R. Patterson
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Analysis ◽  
Canis Latrans ◽  
Alces Alces ◽  
Field Investigation ◽  
Population Viability ◽  
Gps Telemetry ◽  
Potential Source ◽  
Eastern Wolf ◽  
Canis Lycaon ◽  
Moose Population

It has been widely assumed that coyotes (Canis latrans Say, 1823) are incapable of killing adult moose (Alces alces (L., 1758)) and previous studies of coyote predation support this assumption. However, eastern coyotes and eastern coyote × eastern wolf (Canis lycaon Schreber, 1775) are larger than western coyotes and appear to rely on larger prey in some areas. We used a combination of GPS telemetry, genetic analysis, and field investigation to test the hypothesis that eastern coyotes and coyote × wolf hybrids are capable of preying on adult moose in central Ontario. Our hypothesis was supported, as we documented four definitive cases of eastern coyotes and (or) eastern coyote × eastern wolf hybrids killing moose ≥1.5 years old. Predation by coyotes and coyote × wolf hybrids probably does not represent a threat to moose population viability in central Ontario, but our results suggest that researchers and managers in other areas with declining moose populations that are sympatric with eastern coyotes and (or) coyote × wolf hybrids should consider coyote predation as a potential source of mortality.

Sexual dimorphism in wolves (Canis lupus) of the Keewatin District, Northwest Territories, Canada

1996 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 721-725 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracy L. Hillis ◽  
Frank F. Mallory
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Northwest Territories ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Canis Lupus ◽  
Foraging Strategy ◽  
Division Of Labour ◽  
Body Region ◽  
Male Body ◽  
Anterior Body

Twenty-two skeletal, visceral, and adipose parameters were compared in 425 wolves collected from the central Arctic between 1987 and 1989. Fifteen parameters differed significantly by sex. Males were usually larger than females; however, the degree of sexual dimorphism varied with structure. Male skeletal parameters ranged between 3 and 6% greater than those of females, and significant differences were largely associated with the anterior body region and the limbs. Male body mass was 18% and male visceral parameters ranged between 12 and 24% heavier than those of females. Patterns of adipose deposition were also significantly different. Sternum and inguinal fat depths and total external and mesentery fat indices were significantly greater in males (5–44%), while rump fat depth was significantly greater in females (1%). These results support the conclusion that sexual dimorphism in wolves has evolved primarily as a foraging strategy, owing to division of labour between the sexes, and males are more highly specialized for capturing and killing large ungulate prey, while females are more specialized for a nurtural role.

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