A reduced SNP panel to trace gene flow across southern European wolf populations and detect hybridization with other Canis taxa.

ABSTRACT: Intra- and inter-specific gene flow are natural evolutionary processes. However, human-induced hybridization is a global conservation concern across taxa, and the development of discriminant genetic markers to differentiate among gene flow processes is essential. Wolves (Canis lupus) are affected by hybridization, particularly in southern Europe, where ongoing recolonization of historic ranges is augmenting gene flow among divergent populations. Our aim was to provide diagnostic canid markers focused on the long-divergent Iberian, Italian and Dinaric wolf populations, based on existing genomic resources. We used 158 canid samples to select a panel of highly informative single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to (i) distinguish wolves in the three regions from domestic dogs (C. l. familiaris

SUBMITTER: Stronen AV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8907317 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature