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Jarausch A, von Thaden A, Sin T, Corradini A, Pop MI, Chiriac S, Gazzola A, Nowak C. Assessment of genetic diversity, population structure and wolf-dog hybridisation in the Eastern Romanian Carpathian wolf population. Sci Rep 2023; 13:22574. [PMID: 38114536 PMCID: PMC10730609 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48741-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The Carpathian Mountains have been constantly inhabited by grey wolves and present one of the largest distribution areas in Europe, comprising between 2300 and 2700 individuals in Romania. To date, however, relatively little is known about the Romanian wolf population. We aimed to provide a first assessment of genetic diversity, population structure and wolf-dog hybridisation based on 444 mostly non-invasively collected samples in the Eastern Romanian Carpathians. Pack reconstruction and analysis of population genetic parameters were performed with mitochondrial DNA control-region sequencing and microsatellite genotyping. We found relatively high levels of genetic diversity, which is similar to values found in previous studies on Carpathian wolves from Poland and Slovakia, as well as to the long-lasting Dinaric-Balkan wolf population. We found no significant population structure in our study region, suggesting effective dispersal and admixture. Analysis of wolf-dog hybridisation using a Single Nucleotide Polymorphism panel optimised for hybrid detection revealed low rates of admixture between wolves and domestic dogs. Our results provide evidence for the existence of a genetically viable wolf population in the Romanian Carpathians. The genetic data obtained in this study may serve as valuable baseline information for the elaboration of monitoring standards and management plans for wolves in Romania.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Jarausch
- Conservation Genetics Group, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Clamecystraße 12, 63571, Gelnhausen, Germany.
- Department of Biological Sciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Biologicum, Max-von-Laue-Straße 9, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Alina von Thaden
- Conservation Genetics Group, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Clamecystraße 12, 63571, Gelnhausen, Germany
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Teodora Sin
- Department of Systems Ecology and Sustainability, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei 91-95, 050095, Bucharest, Romania
- Association for the Conservation of Biological Diversity, Ion Creanga 12, 620083, Focsani, Romania
| | - Andrea Corradini
- Association for the Conservation of Biological Diversity, Ion Creanga 12, 620083, Focsani, Romania
- Animal Ecology Unit, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via Edmund Mach 1, 38098, San Michele all'Adige, TN, Italy
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, 90133, Palermo, PA, Italy
| | - Mihai I Pop
- Association for the Conservation of Biological Diversity, Ion Creanga 12, 620083, Focsani, Romania
| | - Silviu Chiriac
- Environmental Protection Agency, Vrancea County, Dinicu Golescu 2, 620106, Focsani, Romania
| | - Andrea Gazzola
- Association for the Conservation of Biological Diversity, Ion Creanga 12, 620083, Focsani, Romania
| | - Carsten Nowak
- Conservation Genetics Group, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Clamecystraße 12, 63571, Gelnhausen, Germany
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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Nikitović J, Djan M, Ćirović D, Antić M, Šnjegota D. The first report on genetic variability and population structure in jackals from Bosnia and Herzegovina. MAMMAL RES 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-022-00665-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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