Whole-Genome Data to Investigate Recent and Historical Dog Introgression Patterns in Italian Wolves.

ABSTRACT: Introgression resulting from anthropogenic hybridization may shape phenotypic traits in wild taxa, potentially altering species' ecology and human-wildlife interactions. This is particularly relevant in large carnivores such as gray wolves (Canis lupus ) that are expanding into human-dominated landscapes. A notable example is the Italian wolf (C. l. italicus), which, after recovering from near extinction, now faces locally high levels of hybridization with the domestic dog (C. l. familiaris). Although wolf-dog hybridization is known to affect morphology, its effect on other phenotypic traits remains poorly investigated. We analyzed worldwide-distributed wolf and dog whole-genome data to assess the extent and timing of dog ancestry in a sample of 17 Italian wolves, and

SUBMITTER: Battilani D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12658625 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature