Hybridisation and introgression are important drivers of evolutionary change (Barton, 2001). Human-mediated hybridisation, however, is of increasing concern in conservation biology (Allendorf et al., 2001). Evolutionary processes may be disrupted by human activity, particularly when species distributions are altered by, for example, climate change, landscape use, or introduction of non-native species, leading to contact between populations that were previously allopatric. Whilst it is recognised this can generate a range

While hybridisation has long been recognised as an important natural phenomenon in evolution, the conservation of taxa subject to introgressive hybridisation from domesticated forms is a subject of intense debate. Hybridisation of the Scottish wildcat, the UK’s sole extant native felid, with the domestic cat is a good example in this regard. We develop a modelling framework to determine the timescale and mode of introgression using approximate Bayesian computation (ABC). Applying the model to ddRAD-seq data from 129 individuals, genotyped at 6,546 loci, we show that a population of wildcats genetically distant from domestic cats is still present in Scotland, though these individuals are found almost exclusively within the captive breeding program. Most wild-living cats sampled were introgressed to some extent. Additionally, we evaluate the effectiveness of current methods that are used to classify hybrids. We show that an optimised 35 SNP panel is a better predictor of the ddRAD-based hybrid score in comparison with a morphological method.

Preserving natural genetic diversity and ecological function of wild species is a central goal in conservation biology. As such, anthropogenic hybridization is considered a threat to wild populations, as it can lead to changes in the genetic makeup of wild species and even to the extinction of wild genomes. In European wildcats, the genetic and ecological impacts of gene flow from domestic cats are mostly unknown at the species scale. However, in small and isolated populations, it is known to include genetic swamping of wild genomes. In this context, it is crucial to better understand the dynamics of hybridization across the species range, to inform and implement management measures that maintain the genetic diversity and integrity of the European wildcat. In the present paper, we aim to provide an overview of the current scientific understanding of anthropogenic hybridization in European wildcats, to clarify important aspects regarding the evaluation of hybridization given the available methodologies, and to propose guidelines for management and research priorities.

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