Combining phylogenetic and demographic inferences to assess the origin of the genetic diversity in an isolated wolf population.

ABSTRACT: The survival of isolated small populations is threatened by both demographic and genetic factors. Large carnivores declined for centuries in most of Europe due to habitat changes, overhunting of their natural prey and direct persecution. However, the current rewilding trends are driving many carnivore populations to expand again, possibly reverting the erosion of their genetic diversity. In this study we reassessed the extent and origin of the genetic variation of the Italian wolf population, which is expanding after centuries of decline and isolation. We genotyped wolves from Italy and other nine populations at four mtDNA regions (control-region, ATP6, COIII and ND4) and 39 autosomal microsatellites. Results of phylogenetic analyses and assignment procedures confirmed in the Italian wolve

SUBMITTER: Montana L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5425034 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature