Variation in fur farm and wild populations of the red fox, Vulpes vulpes (Carnivora: Canidae) — Part I: Morphometry

Abstract

This paper demonstrates the influence of artificial selection on morphometric traits in the red fox [Vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758)]. Measurements and two proportion coefficients were analysed in 132 wild and 199 farm red foxes. The two groups differed significantly (P ≤ 0.05) on all but one of the measurements. Eight out of 11 measurements were significantly greater in the farm fox population, while only tail length, ear height, and length of the right hind limb were greater in the population of wild foxes. The opposite trend was observed when analysing variation in the measurements -the farm foxes were characterized by a greater variability only in the case of body weight, body length, and breadth of chest. When analysing the sexual dimorphism index in different sex and population groups, in almost all analysed traits, the greatest differences occurred between farm males and wild females. All of the traits examined in this study are important for survival of wild foxes. However, because importance of some traits was reduced during domestication and selective breeding (farm foxes do not have to fight for survival), the genetic relationship between them may have weakened. Other possible causes of morphological differences between the studied groups of red foxes are discussed as well.Key words: morphometrics, farm red fox, wild red fox, Vulpes vulpes.Résumé : Cet article démontre l'influence de la sélection artificielle sur les caractéristiques morphométriques du renard roux [Vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758)]. Des mesures ainsi que deux coefficients de proportion ont été analysés chez 132 renards roux sauvages et 199 renards roux d'élevage. Les deux groupes différaient de façon significative (P ≤ 0,05) sur toutes les mesures sauf une. Huit des 11 mesures étaient significativement plus élevées dans la population de renards d'élevage, tandis que seulement la longueur de queue, la hauteur des oreilles et la longueur de la patte droite arrière étaient plus élevées dans la population de renards sauvages. Une tendance inverse a été observée lorsqu'il y a eu analyse de la variation dans les mesures -les renards d'élevage se caractérisaient par une plus grande variabilité seulement dans le cas du poids corporel, de la longueur du corps et de la largeur de poitrine. Lors de l'analyse de l'indice de dimorphisme sexuel parmi les différents groupes sexe et population, dans la plupart des caractéristiques analysées, les plus grandes différences se retrouvent entre les mâles d'élevage et les femelles sauvages. Toutes les caractéristiques examinées lors de cette étude sont importantes pour la survie des renards sauvages. Par contre, puisque l'importance de certaines caractéristiques est diminuée pendant la domestication et l'élevage sélectif (les renards d'élevage ne sont pas obligés de se battre pour leur survie), la relation génétique entre eux pourrait avoir faibli. D'autres causes possibles des différences morphologiques entre les groupes de renards roux étudiés sont aussi discutées. [Traduit par la Rédaction] Mots-...

Admixture analyses and phylogeographic relationships reveal complete genetic distinctiveness of Polish farm and wild red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and the North American origin of farm‐bred individuals

“…If the farm population originated from North American red foxes, then the admixture analysis would show a higher level of non‐native alleles (imported from North America) and a lack or low level of alleles of Eurasian origin. Earlier morphological studies and preliminary results of microsatellite markers analysis (Zatoń‐Dobrowolska et al., , ) have suggested that the origin of foxes and selective breeding played a significant role in the differentiation of morphological traits in Polish farm‐ and wild red foxes. However, to the best of our knowledge, only Jeżewska‐Witkowska et al.…”

“…Extensive comparative research taking into account both morphological traits and molecular markers (microsatellites and mtDNA) has recently been carried out by Zatoń‐Dobrowolska et al. () and Zatoń‐Dobrowolska, Moska, Mucha, Wierzbicki, and Dobrowolski (), who investigated the effect of ancestry and selective breeding on morphological differences between wild‐ and farm‐bred red fox populations in Poland. They found significant differences among the vast majority of the body, cranial and dental measurements studied.…”

Variation in fur farm and wild populations of the red fox, Vulpes vulpes (Carnivora: Canidae). Part II: Craniometry

“…Selective breeding carried out on farms prefers rather those phenotypes that bring economic profit for breeders (De Vries 1989;Wierzbicki 2005;Wierzbicki et al 2007). Due to different natural and artificial selection pressures phenotypic variation in different traits of the same species (e.g., V. vulpes, Neovison vison) may be induced (Melero et al 2012;Zatoń-Dobrowolska et al 2016).…”

“…As a consequence of that, it must be kept in mind that when we compare the wild population of European red foxes with farm red foxes, in fact we compare two genetically distinct populationsthe Eurasian red fox population vs. the red foxes of North American origin (a founder population of farm foxes which genetic structure has been changed through selective breeding). Thus, the morphological differences between wild and farm-bred foxes may have been caused, among others, by distinct gene pools of both populations (Zatoń-Dobrowolska et al 2016).…”

“…The aim of this paper was to compare the craniometric measurements of wild and farm populations of the red fox to further investigate the effect of ancestry and selective breeding on craniometrical variation between the studied fox populations. A comparative analysis of the morphological traits (nine characters and two proportion coefficients) of farm red foxes and their wild counterparts has been reported in the first part of the study (Zatoń-Dobrowolska et al 2016). The origin of both groups of foxes as presumably an important decisive source of phenotypic differences between them will be investigated and discussed in the third, phylogenetic part of this research.…”