Dynamic range expansion leads to establishment of a new, genetically distinct wolf population in Central Europe.

ABSTRACT: Local extinction and recolonization events can shape genetic structure of subdivided animal populations. The gray wolf (Canis lupus) was extirpated from most of Europe, but recently recolonized big part of its historical range. An exceptionally dynamic expansion of wolf population is observed in the western part of the Great European Plain. Nonetheless, genetic consequences of this process have not yet been fully understood. We aimed to assess genetic diversity of this recently established wolf population in Western Poland (WPL), determine its origin and provide novel data regarding the population genetic structure of the grey wolf in Central Europe. We utilized both spatially explicit and non-explicit Bayesian clustering approaches, as well as a model-independent, multivariate method DAPC

SUBMITTER: Szewczyk M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6908625 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature