The conspecific nature of eastern and red wolves: conservation and management implications

Kyle, Christopher J.; Johnson, Aria; Patterson, Brent R.; Wilson, Paul J.; White, Bradley N.

doi:10.1007/s10592-007-9380-5

Cited by 14 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…The Eastern Wolf has only recently been described (Wilson et al 2000(Wilson et al , 2003 (supported by Kyle et al 2006Kyle et al , 2008Fain et al 2010;Mech 2010;Rutledge et al 2010b;Mech 2011;Chambers et al 2012;Rutledge et al 2012a). The work of earlier researchers (including Lawrence and Bossert 1969;Silver and Silver 1969;Kolenosky and Standfield 1975;hilton 1978;Schmitz and Kolenosky 1985;Schmitz and Lavigne 1987) did not acknowledge, or know of, the presence of this smaller species of wolf, instead recognizing it as a subspecies of Gray Wolf (C. lupus lycaon).…”

Section: Morphologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Based on the majority of the recently published literature (Wilson et al 2000;Nowak 2002;Wilson et al 2003;Kyle et al 2006Kyle et al , 2008Wilson et al 2009;Fain 2010;Mech 2010;Rutledge et al 2010aRutledge et al , 2010bMech 2011;Chambers et al 2012;Rutledge et al 2012aRutledge et al , 2012b, I have assumed that the wolf that hybridized to form the northeastern Coyote is a North american-evolved wolf species (C. lycaon) that is independent of the Gray Wolf and closely related to the Coyote.…”

Section: Taxonomy and Hybridization In Eastern Canis: Eastern Wolf Inmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Because the currently accepted view that the original species of wolf found in northeastern North america was the Eastern Wolf and not the Gray Wolf (Wilson et al 2009;Fain et al 2010;Mech 2010Mech , 2011Chambers et al 2012;Rutledge et al 2012aRutledge et al , 2012b (although see vonholdt et al 2011), the northeastern Coyote (harboring Eastern Wolf genes) likely retains some of the original genetic diversity of canids from northeastern North america, even from areas where the Eastern Wolf has been extirpated (Murray and Waits 2007;Kyle et al 2008).…”

Section: Conclusion Regarding Hybridization In Eastern Canismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The hybrid was originally called the Tweed Wolf (Kolenosky and Standfield 1975;Wilson et al 2009). Recent research indicates that the medium-sized Eastern Wolf (Rutledge et al 2010b;Chambers et al 2012;Rutledge et al 2012aRutledge et al , 2012b was probably the original species native to northeastern North america, with potential influence from Gray Wolves (Canis lupus) (or their hybrids) from the north (Kyle et al 2008;Wilson et al 2009;Fain et al 2010;Mech 2010;Chambers et al 2012;Wheeldon and Patterson 2012), but see the discussion in vonholdt et al (2011) for an alternate interpretation. In addition, a new theory (vonholdt et al 2011) (also see Wheeldon and Patterson 2012) holds that domestic dogs (C. lupus familiaris) contributed ~9% to the genetic composition of the northeastern Coyote (previous genetic studies detected no dog influence (Way et al 2010) or insignificant amounts (Kays et al 2010)).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Taxonomic Implications of Morphological and Genetic Differences in Northeastern Coyotes (Coywolves) (Canis latrans × C. lycaon), Western Coyotes (C. latrans), and Eastern Wolves (C. lycaon or C. lupus lycaon)

Way

2013

Can Field Nat

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The eastern Coyote or Coywolf (Canis latrans × C. lycaon) inhabiting northeastern North America resulted from hybridization between the expanding population of the western Coyote (Canis latrans) and the remnant population of Eastern Wolf (C. lycaon) and possibly domestic dogs (C. lupus familiaris) in the early 20th century. This study compares the body mass of eastern (i.e., northeastern) Coyotes, western Coyotes, and Eastern Wolves and synthesizes the recent literature to gain better insight into the taxonomic relations and differences of closely-related Canis species. Northeastern Coyotes (males = 16.5 kg; females = 14.7 kg) were statistically (P < 0.0001) intermediate in mass between western Coyotes (males = 12.2 kg; females = 10.7 kg) and Eastern Wolves (males = 28.2 kg, females = 23.7 kg), consistent with their hybrid origin, but were numerically closer to western Coyotes. Large Cohen’s d (3.00–8.56), (0.915–0.929), and Cohen’s f (3.28–3.62) values indicated large effect sizes from the body mass comparisons. Eastern Wolves were 61–71% heavier than the same sex in the northeastern Coyotes, which in turn were ca. 35–37% heavier than the same sex in the western Coyotes. Alternatively, western Coyotes were 73–74% of the size of the same sex in the northeastern Coyotes, which in turn were 59–62% of the size of the same sex in the Eastern Wolves. I also attempted to relate mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotypes to body mass. Six of 17 (35.3%) adult female northeastern Coyotes captured in Massachusetts weighed ≥18 kg, heavier than any other described Coyote from outside northeastern North America. Mitochondrial DNA haplotypes associated with these heavy female northeastern canids were C9 = 4, C19 = 1, and C48 = 1. Body mass (kg) and mtDNA haplotype data of 53 northeastern Coyotes (males = 28, females = 25) showed no difference between haplotype and body mass for males (P < 0.852) or females (P < 0.128), suggesting that there is not a particular haplotype (e.g., C1) that is associated with the heavier animals. I propose that the most appropriate name for this hybrid animal is Coywolf (Canis latrans × C. lycaon), rather than a type of Coyote. Coywolves are distinct, being larger than any other population of Coyotes but smaller than Eastern Wolves. I propose that the 5 distinct types of Canis be recognized as: western Coyote, Coywolf (northeastern Coyote), Eastern Wolf (including Red Wolf C. rufus), Gray × Eastern Wolf hybrids (‘Great Lakes’ Wolves; C. lupus × C. lycaon or C. lycaon × C. lupus), and Gray Wolf (C. lupus). The implications for wolf recovery in the northeastern United States is discussed.

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Section: Morphologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Taxonomy and Hybridization In Eastern Canis: Eastern Wolf Inmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Conclusion Regarding Hybridization In Eastern Canismentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Taxonomic Implications of Morphological and Genetic Differences in Northeastern Coyotes (Coywolves) (Canis latrans × C. lycaon), Western Coyotes (C. latrans), and Eastern Wolves (C. lycaon or C. lupus lycaon)

Way

2013

Can Field Nat

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“…Recovery decisions concerning wolves in the WGL states continue to be dogged by controversy regarding the scale and complexity of wolf-coyote hybridization (Mech 2008, Leonard andWayne 2008a;Wheeldon and White 2008). Moreover, this issue is further complicated by the lack of general agreement surrounding the systematics of North American wolves and the manner in which wolf-coyote hybrids have been identified (Lehman et al 1991;Wilson et al 2000;Kyle et al 2006;Murray Berger and Gese 2007;Kyle et al 2008;Nowak 2002Nowak , 2003Nowak , 2009.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic outcomes of wolf recovery in the western Great Lakes states

2010

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Conflicting interpretations of the influence of coyote hybridization on wolf recovery in the western Great Lakes (WGL) states have stemmed from disagreement over the systematics of North American wolves. Questions regarding their recovery status have resulted. We addressed these issues with phylogenetic and admixture analysis of DNA profiles of western wolves, WGL states wolves and Wisconsin coyotes developed from autosome and Y-chromosome microsatellites and mitochondrial DNA control region sequence. Hybridization was assessed by comparing the haplotypes exhibited by sympatric wolves and coyotes. Genetic variability and connectivity were also examined. These analyses support the recognition of Canis lycaon as a unique species of North American wolf present in the WGL states and found evidence of hybridization between C. lupus and C. lycaon but no evidence of recent hybridization with sympatric coyotes. The recolonized WGL states wolves are genetically similar to historical wolves from the region and should be considered restored.

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Intense harvesting of eastern wolves facilitated hybridization with coyotes

Rutledge

White

Row

et al. 2011

Ecology and Evolution

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Despite ethical arguments against lethal control of wildlife populations, culling is routinely used for the management of predators, invasive or pest species, and infectious diseases. Here, we demonstrate that culling of wildlife can have unforeseen impacts that can be detrimental to future conservation efforts. Specifically, we analyzed genetic data from eastern wolves (Canis lycaon) sampled in Algonquin Provincial Park (APP), Ontario, Canada from 1964 to 2007. Research culls in 1964 and 1965 killed the majority of wolves within a study region of APP, accounting for approximately 36% of the park's wolf population at a time when coyotes were colonizing the region. The culls were followed by a significant decrease in an eastern wolf mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotype (C1) in the Park's wolf population, as well as an increase in coyote mitochondrial and nuclear DNA. The introgression of nuclear DNA from coyotes, however, appears to have been curtailed by legislation that extended wolf protection outside park boundaries in 2001, although eastern wolf mtDNA haplotype C1 continued to decline and is now rare within the park population. We conclude that the wolf culls transformed the genetic composition of this unique eastern wolf population by facilitating coyote introgression. These results demonstrate that intense localized harvest of a seemingly abundant species can lead to unexpected hybridization events that encumber future conservation efforts. Ultimately, researchers need to contemplate not only the ethics of research methods, but also that future implications may be obscured by gaps in our current scientific understanding.

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The conspecific nature of eastern and red wolves: conservation and management implications

Cited by 14 publications

References 22 publications

Taxonomic Implications of Morphological and Genetic Differences in Northeastern Coyotes (Coywolves) (<em>Canis latrans</em> × <em>C. lycaon</em>), Western Coyotes (<em>C. latrans</em>), and Eastern Wolves (<em>C. lycaon</em> or <em>C. lupus lycaon</em>)

Taxonomic Implications of Morphological and Genetic Differences in Northeastern Coyotes (Coywolves) (<em>Canis latrans</em> × <em>C. lycaon</em>), Western Coyotes (<em>C. latrans</em>), and Eastern Wolves (<em>C. lycaon</em> or <em>C. lupus lycaon</em>)

Genetic outcomes of wolf recovery in the western Great Lakes states

Intense harvesting of eastern wolves facilitated hybridization with coyotes

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