Geographic patterns in morphometric and genetic variation for coyote populations with emphasis on southeastern coyotes.

ABSTRACT: Prior to 1900, coyotes (Canis latrans) were restricted to the western and central regions of North America, but by the early 2000s, coyotes became ubiquitous throughout the eastern United States. Information regarding morphological and genetic structure of coyote populations in the southeastern United States is limited, and where data exist, they are rarely compared to those from other regions of North America. We assessed geographic patterns in morphology and genetics of coyotes with special consideration of coyotes in the southeastern United States. Mean body mass of coyote populations increased along a west-to-east gradient, with southeastern coyotes being intermediate to western and northeastern coyotes. Similarly, principal component analysis of body mass and linear body measur

SUBMITTER: Hinton JW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6434562 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature