We found the four Y chromosome microsatellite loci from [29] to be easier to amplify and less sensitive to PCR conditions when using the modified primers presented here. Hedrick PW, Miller PS, Geffen E, Wayne RK. However, a perfect mix of coyote and wolf is not an actual thing. These coywolves are a population of coyotes with non-coyote DNA mixed. Most of these probably die, being a compromise between two longstanding species that were already well-adapted to their own niches. This haplotype differed from Texas coyote haplotypes by 39 (5.61.5) mutational steps, and by only one step from each of the two Mexican wolf haplotypes (Fig. If so, this variant may have entered the red wolf population through introgressive hybridization with coyotes when the red wolf was going extinct in the wild (Table 4). Ellegren H. Microsatellite mutations in the germline: implications for evolutionary inference. I think we are a long way from this possibility. Inferred intermediate haplotypes are shown as small open circles. McCarley H. The taxonomic status of wild Canis (Canidae) in the south central United States. Molecular genetics of the most endangered canid: The Ethiopian wolf. We dont get many opportunities to name new animals in the 21st century. 
Mitochondrial DNA analysis supports extensive hybridization of the endangered red wolf (. When populations go through bottlenecks, such as when the last few wild red wolves and Mexican wolves were captured to be founders of the captive breeding programs, they are subject to strong genetic drift. A century ago, wolf populations in the Great Lakes were at their nadir, living at such low density that some reproductive animals probably couldnt find another wolf mate, and had to settle with a coyote. And then theres the sperm whale. It is thought that red wolves are closely related to coyotes [20], and therefore it is possible that red wolves and coyotes are not reciprocally monophyletic due to incomplete lineage sorting [48], [49]. Your tax-deductible contribution plays a critical role in sustaining this effort. Our results demonstrate that the factors driving introgressive hybridization in sympatric Texan Canis are multiple and complex. We compared levels of genetic variability in coyotes from Texas, which were historically sympatric with Mexican wolves and red wolves, with that in coyotes from Nebraska, which were historically sympatric with gray wolves only. For the time being, we have the eastern coyote, a fascinating new hybrid of coyote undergoing an incredible evolutionary transformation. The coywolf is not a thing. In Central America, they have expanded out of Mexicos deserts, working their way south past the Panama Canal in the last decade, apparently bound for South America. Lehman N, Wayne RK. IFLScience The Big Questions: What Is The Universe Made Of? A: Haplotypes with the 208 allele at MS41A, characteristic of the gray wolf lineage. Mitochondrial DNA phylogeography and population history of the gray wolf. While the phylogenetic origin of maternally and paternally inherited genetic markers in the captive red wolf program remains unclear, captive animals appear similar to historic red wolves in morphology [20] and autosomal microsatellites [51]. However, population declines of the Mexican and red wolves during the 20th century could have resulted in an increased frequency of hybridization. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Bootstrap support is indicated on branches when over 50%. Allendorf FW, Leary RF, Spruell P, Wenburg JK. For example, hybridization with domestic dogs (C. familiaris) threatens the Simian wolf (C. simensis) [10] and hybridization with coyotes (C. latrans) threatens the red wolf (C. rufus) [11][13]. Genetically, these canines can interbreed because they are all closely related. When they are merely a mix of coyotes and dogs, they are classified as coydog and not a coywolf. The coydog is a new interbreed that is commonly misunderstood due to human breeding. In addition, previously published mitochondrial DNA data on historic [26] and recent [18] Mexican wolves, Texas coyotes [13], and historic [27], [28] and recent red wolves [18] were also included. Newly identified sequences have been submitted to EMBL, accession numbers {"type":"entrez-nucleotide-range","attrs":{"text":"FM209365-FM209425","start_term":"FM209365","end_term":"FM209425","start_term_id":"206596733","end_term_id":"206596793"}}FM209365-FM209425. But dont call it a new species, and please, dont call it the coywolf. Relationship and genetic purity of the endangered Mexican wolf based on analysis of microsatellite loci. Gray wolf and red wolf. 1). Finally, we gathered previously published Y chromosome data from gray wolves [29][32] for phylogenetic and diversity comparisons. 
Haplotype lu33, found in the captive Mexican wolves, was also the most common among the historic sequences. In situations when one or both of the taxa involved is/are rare, Allee effects [4] can lead to a breakdown of prezygotic reproductive barriers and initiate genetic introgression [5][8]. As an example, new DNA research shows all eastern coyotes are a combination of coyotes, wolves, and dogs! and transmitted securely. Coyote Howling: Why Do Coyotes Make Sounds at Night? Discover them all for FREE, Coyote Howling: Why Do Coyotes Make Sounds, Coywolf Coyote Wolf Mix: Everything You Need to Know About This Hybrid, Coyote Scat: How to Tell if a Coyote Pooped in Your Yard. While the red wolf and coyote populations apparently accepted male and female hybrids, Mexican wolves only show evidence of accepting female hybrids. 8600 Rockville Pike Read the original article. Three control region haplotypes have been identified in six historic Mexican wolves (Table 1) [26]. Rozas J, Snchez-Delbarrio JC, Messeguer X, Rozas R. DnaSP, DNA polymorphism analyses by the coalescent and other methods. However, in todays quickly changing environment, new varieties may outperform previous ones. DNA profiles of the eastern Canadian wolf and the red wolf provide evidence for a common evolutionary history independent of the gray wolf. Two Y chromosome haplotypes were identified in 16 captive Mexican wolves (Table 3), likely reflecting the small number of founders. Legacy lost: genetic variability and population size of extirpated US gray wolves, Wayne RK, Jenks SM. | RSS, Roaming Presque Isle State Park in Erie, Pennsylvania. VonHoldt BM, Stahler DR, Smith DW, Earl DA, Pollinger JP, et al. For comparison, 20 haplotypes in 226 Alaska, United States and Northwest Territories (NWT), Canada gray wolves differed by 110 (average 4.62.3) mutational steps (data from [30], [31]). A neighbor-joining (NJ) phylogeny based on partial mtDNA control region sequences 393400 base pair (bp) long (variation due to indels) was constructed in PAUP* 4.0b10 [36] using the HKY85 model of sequence evolution and a gamma correction (=0.5). Western coyotes adapt locally to their environments, with limited gene flow between populations (called ecotypes) living in different habitats, presumably reflecting local specialization. These haplotypes have not been identified in any other North American gray wolves analyzed to date [30], [31]. Application of genetic markers can shed light on questions related to past hybridization events. Combined use of maternal, paternal and bi-parental genetic markers for the identification of wolf-dog hybrids. Vil C, Amorim IR, Leonard JA, Posada D, Castroviejo J, et al. N Alternatively, haplotype ru1 may actually be of coyote descent. In order to determine if levels of genetic variability at maternally and paternally inherited markers have changed dramatically due to hybridization in coyotes from Texas, we also obtained tissue samples from culled wild coyotes in Nebraska (n=75), from an area where historically only coyotes and gray wolves coexisted. The third species is the coyote, which remains extant in the wild and is currently abundant. Dave Inman/flickr, CC BY-NC-ND, Microbes In Deadly Deep-Sea Brine Pools Could Help Us Search For Life On Other Planets, Earth's Crust Dripped "Like Honey" Into The Planet's Mantle Beneath The Andes, Mystery Of Mammals' Warm-Blooded Origins Solved Thanks To Our Ancestors Ear Canals, Latest COVID Strain Can Cause "Strange" New Symptom At Night, Says Professor, A Crack Opened In Earths Magnetic Field On Thursday And Stayed Open For 14 Hours. Funding: Funding was provided by the Carl Trygger Foundation and Swedish Research Council. However, we also found evidence of the opposite pattern. Please make a tax-deductible gift today. Careers, University of Utah, United States of America. Widespread occurrence of a domestic dog mitochondrial DNA haplotype in southeastern US coyotes. Natural selection is still sorting this out, and we are witnessing the evolution of a new type of coyote right under our noses, one that is very good at living there. Its one thing to call it a Coywolf; quite another to understand exactly what it is! As mentioned above, one coyote from Texas had allele 208 at MS41A (haplotype H2), which indicates introgression of a non-coyote Y chromosome into the Texas coyote population (Table 4). distribution ranges based on Nowak [20]. Mutational processes of simple-sequence repeat loci in human populations. This suggests that haplotype Cla12 introgressed into the Texas coyote population following a mating between a male coyote and a female gray wolf (but see comments in the discussion regarding direct hybridization between gray wolves and coyotes). Garca-Moreno J, Matocq MD, Toy MS, Geffen E, Wayne RK. Zink RM, Barrowclough GF. eMammal. Red wolfcoyote hybrids may have backcrossed into the coyote population as well as the red wolf population. The percentages vary depending on the test and the dogs region. DNA was extracted using a standard phenol-chloroform extraction followed by alcohol precipitation [33]. A dark eastern coyote is caught on camera trap as it hunts with his better-camouflaged pack mate in North Carolina. Allele sizes are given as in [29]. This German shepherd-like coloration probably comes from a dog gene that moved into the coyote gene pool in a hybridization event ~50 years ago. Haplotype ru1 was most closely related to haplotype la136 (found in a Texas coyote; this study), from which it differed by two substitutions (no indel). Consistent with this, evidence from other markers also does not suggest the presence of any hybrid lineages in the captive stock (reviewed in [42]). An official website of the United States government. Support for internal nodes was determined by 1000 bootstrap replicates. Haplotype diversity was calculated in Arlequin 3.11 [38]. This threat is not new-the founders of the captive breeding program originated from a population known to have been impacted by hybridization with coyotes [11], [21]. Paternal lineages in coyotes from Texas (TX) and Nebraska (NE), captive red wolves (RU), Mexican wolves (MX), and gray wolves from Denali (Alaska, AK) and the Northwest Territories (NWT, Canada). Fish that walk! 2.6) and from coyote haplotypes by 19 steps (5.32.0 S.D.). Its unclear which dog and wolf genes have survived natural selection in todays eastern coyote. The mix varies from south to east. Their populations continue to grow throughout their new forested range, and they seem more likely to kill a dog than breed with it. The second haplotype in the captive red wolf breeding program (H15) had the coyote-like allele 212 at locus MS41A, and was identified in two coyotes from Texas (one from Webb Co. and one from Andrews Co., 6% of the samples studied) (Fig. Roy MS, Geffen E, Smith D, Wayne RK. These features make the loci better suited for amplification in samples of suboptimal DNA quality and/or quantity, such as feces and historic museum material. As with other colloquial names, there is some truth to this moniker, but there is also a lot of misinformation associated with it. The new primer sets may be particularly useful for management of the reintroduced population of red wolves in North Carolina, where coyotes are being excluded and red wolfcoyote hybrids are identified through noninvasive genetic surveys. A new genetic organism is not a new species. The Silurian Hypothesis: Could An Advanced Civilization Have Lived On Earth Millions Of Years Before Humans? 3a). All Rights Reserved. If individuals are unable to find a suitable mate, they may be susceptible to mating with individuals of other species or may forgo breeding altogether (i.e. A larger coyote accompanied their arrival, far larger than any previously observed. Exactly which dog and wolf genes are surviving natural selection in todays eastern coyote is an area of active research. Previously published mtDNA data from historic red wolf specimens showed both coyote-like and wolf-like haplotypes (3 of 6 gray wolf-like, 3 of 6 coyote-like, [27]; 3 of 11 gray wolf-like, 8 of 11 coyote-like, [28]). Application of Y chromosome markers would facilitate the identification of hybrids resulting from the mating of female red wolves with male coyotes. Keep reading to understand. Ongoing attempts to reintroduce the red wolf into the wild should therefore not be affected by the presence of introgressed haplotypes. Lehman N, Eisenhawer A, Hansen K, Mech LD, Peterson RO, et al. Coyote vs Wolf: The 6 Key Differences Explained, Coywolf - Coyote Wolf Mix: Everything You Need to Know About This Hybrid. There are multiple examples in the genus Canis where hybridization is a serious threat to the survival of an endangered species or population. about navigating our updated article layout. Adams JR, Kelly BT, Waits LP. Accessibility Hybridization between wolf and coyote in captivity. Introgression of coyote mitochondrial DNA into sympatric North American gray wolf populations. PAUP*. However, just because western wolves can produce viable offspring doesn't mean they ever have in the wild. Paradiso JL. Schmitz OJ, Kolenosky GB. Species-level paraphyly and polyphyly: Frequency, causes, and consequences, with insights from animal mitochondrial DNA. Previously published Y chromosome data from gray wolves report no alleles larger than 210. Coyotes with odd coat colors or hair types are probably the most conspicuous sign of dog genes in action, while their slightly larger size might come from wolf genes. A substantial part of my life has been spent as a writer and artist, with great respect to observing nature with an analytical and metaphysical eye. We thank Anna-Karin Sundqvist for assistance in the lab. Will eastern coyotes specialize locally as well? Some of these genetic mixes will survive better than others this is natural selection. TCS: a computer program to estimate gene genealogies. Hybridization between animal species in the wild is revealed in an increasing number of studies [1][3]. Before Haplotype lu32 is a relatively common gray wolf haplotype, widespread in North America [18], [26] and found in historic Mexican wolves (see below; [26]). The Texas coyote haplotypes differed by 124 substitutions (on average 8.01.3 SD among individuals) and contained six variable indels. Yes, there are wolf genes in some populations, but there are also eastern coyotes with almost no wolf genes, and others that have as much dog mixed in as they do wolf. 2) was not identified in any Texas or Nebraska coyote (Table 2), although it clustered with them with high statistical certainty (Fig. Funk DJ, Omland KE. Canids recently collected in east Texas, with comments on the taxonomy of the red wolf. Center for Conservation and Evolutionary Genetics, National Zoological Park & National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C., United States of America. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about this hybrid. So researchers collected semen from captive western wolves and artificially inseminated nine coyotes. Flagstad O, Walker CW, Vila C, Sundqvist A-K, Fernholm B, et al. The Position Most Likely To Make Women Orgasm, According To A New Study, JWST Has Shown It Can Detect Life Signatures On Exoplanets. Boitani L. Wolf Conservation and recovery. Great Lakes Wolves were not restored. The situation for the red wolf captive breeding program is different, as both the mitochondrial and both Y chromosome lineages could have a hybrid origin. Cytonuclear genomic dissociation in African elephant species. If this was the case, then red wolf genetic material could still persist in the wild population of coyotes in Texas. A single mtDNA control region haplotype has been identified in captive Mexican wolves (haplotype lu33; [18]). In all these cases, there is a large disparity in population size between the hybridizing taxa, and the species that is rare is threatened by interbreeding with the common species. Available data therefore suggest that Texas coyotes have withstood the last centuries' ecological changes without much introgression from sympatric species of Canis, with which they have been documented to hybridize ([11]; Table 4). In these cases, haploid genetic markers, such as mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) or Y chromosome markers, may be more informative [24]. Coyotes have also expanded north into Alaska, although there is no sign of hybridization in that range extension. None of the maternally or paternally inherited lineages in the Mexican wolf captive breeding program appear to have a hybrid origin (some introgressed nuclear genes could remain, but see [46] who found evidence for purity of the captive stock at autosomal microsatellite markers). Testing for wolfcoyote hybridization in the Rocky Mountains using mitochondrial DNA. If you are wondering whether the coywolf is a real animal, the answer is sort of. Similarly, the phylogenetic proximity of the second (wolf-like) captive red wolf Y chromosome haplotype H1 to the two found in Mexican wolves could indicate that it introgressed into the red wolf population, or that H1 represents an authentic red wolf lineage that is similar to the Mexican wolf haplotypes at the studied Y chromosome microsatellites (Table 4). Sundqvist A-K, Bjrnerfeldt S, Leonard JA, Hailer F, Hedhammar , et al. 2nd edn. Haplotype H15 was also found in two extant coyotes from Texas, indicating that it may have been introgressed from coyotes into red wolves (or vice versa). Sequences were run on an ABI automated sequencer 377 (Perkin-Elmer, Boston, Massachusetts) following the manufacturer's protocols and subsequently checked and aligned by eye using Sequencher version 4.6 (Gene Codes, Ann Arbor, USA). © 2022 IFLScience. 
To some researchers, this is further evidence that gray wolves are the same species across the United States. Leonard JA, Wayne RK. H) encountered in n individuals, and Hd is Nei's unbiased gene diversity [57]. In 2012, one female became pregnant but the fetus died. These data show that female as well as male coyotes were involved in hybrid matings, which implies that both sexes mated with larger partners. The media really love this new animal name. Their DNA shows coyotes mated with wolves approximately one hundred years ago and with dogs about 50 years ago. Mexican wolves were driven to extinction in the wild by many of the same causes that led to the decline of the red wolf [22]. Coyotes have been common and widespread in Texas throughout historic times, so backcrossing of red wolfcoyote hybrids into the coyote population could be regarded as unlikely under the scarcity of mates hypothesis (see [1], [7]). However, inspection of our data and published Y chromosome data revealed that all American gray wolves carry a diagnostic allele (208) at locus MS41A, while coyotes have alleles 212218. Another case may be the Great Lakes area wolves (C. lupus lycaon) that have hybridized both with gray wolves (C. lupus nubilus) and coyotes [14]. We can estimate the date of the most recent hybridization events that created eastern coyotes by analyzing their genetic structure. Diagonal hatching denotes the coyote distribution, light gray shading that of red wolves, and dark gray shading that of Mexican wolves. Additionally, such backcrossing to coyotes may be expected to have left only a minor genetic footprint, given the large population size of Texas coyotes. Texas is a region where three species of Canis historically occurred in sympatry (Fig. Most of them die, being a compromise between two long-established species well-adapted to their habitats. The mtDNA control region haplotype found in captive red wolves (ru1; Fig. African elephants [52], goats [53] and chipmunks [54]). To fully understand how a coyote and wolf would procreate to make a coywolf, you must first understand the genetic blending that has been taking place between these species. There are many examples of bad animal names that cause a lot of confusion. Resulting fragment sizes are 120 bp (MS41A and MS41B) and 63 bp (MS34A and MS34B) shorter than those from the original primers. Haplotype H1 had the wolf-like allele 208 at locus MS41A and was not identified in any other animal. Coyote haplotypes are shown in yellow, Alaskan and Canadian gray wolves in white, Mexican wolves in blue, and red wolves in red. Coywolf is an inaccurate name that causes confusion. Help News from Science publish trustworthy, high-impact stories about research and the people who shape it. H15 is shared between captive red wolves and coyotes from Texas. Both the captive population of red wolves and the captive population of Mexican wolves show low levels of genetic diversity, which is to be expected given the severe bottleneck imposed by limited numbers of founders and subsequent captive breeding (in total 7 founders for the three lineages involved in the Mexican wolf captive breeding program, 14 founders for the captive red wolves [45]). The mountain beaver of the Pacific Northwest is not a beaver and does not live in the mountains. Evidence of introgression of a coyote mitochondrial haplotype was identified in a historic Mexican wolf, but this lineage is not present in the extant population. Eastern coyotes can now easily find a coyote mate extremely easy. Thanks to some deft handiwork, biologists have shown that wolves from the western United States can successfully hybridize with coyotes. None of those historic sequences revealed a phylogenetically distinct lineage in red wolves, however this may be due to the lower resolution of cytochrome b sequences in Canis. If the reintroduced population of Mexican wolves is to be self-sustaining, its population size will have to increase. Historical levels of hybridization are unknown, but morphological data from historical specimens demonstrate that introgression, if it occurred, had not led to the formation of a hybrid swarm prior to recent human impacts [20]. The .gov means its official. [13] had a haplotype (Cla12) located with high support in the gray wolf clade, most similar to haplotype lu32. Even modern humans are hybrids, with traces of Neanderthal and Denisovan genes mixed into our genome. It's known that wolves in the eastern United States can mate with coyoteswhich could explain the presence of coyotelike mitochondrial DNA in the eastern wolvesbut hybrids haven't been observed in the west. All Rights Reserved. Its population continues to thrive in its new woodland home, and it seems to prefer killing dogs over breeding with them. Neighbor-joining phylogeny of mtDNA control region sequences from coyotes from Texas (la), Mexican wolves (lu) and red wolves (ru). Barbara Ballentine, Emily Latch, Jesus Maldonado, Carles Vil and Robert Wayne are thanked for discussions and comments on previous versions of the manuscript. 
The percentages vary, dependent upon exactly which test is applied and the geographic location of the canine. However, the large number of mtDNA haplotypes observed at low frequencies (Table 2) strongly suggests that many additional coyote haplotypes remain unsampled. Logistical support was provided by the Center for Conservation and Evolutionary Genetics, National Zoological Park, Smithsonian Institution, USA. Wilson PJ, Grewal S, Lawford ID, Heal JNM, Granacki AG, et al. Nowadays, eastern coyotes have no problem finding a coyote mate. In the last century, a predator I prefer the name eastern coyote has colonized the forests of eastern North America, from Florida to Labrador. Robert Fisher (National Museum for Natural History, Smithsonian Institution) is thanked for updated information of the historic wolf specimens. However, this is no longer a threat to the red wolf now that the species are completely allopatric. The site is secure. Pilgrim KL, Boyd DK, Forbes SH. We shouldnt let the media mess up this one by declaring it a new species called the coywolf. Using ambiguous terminologies like coywolf and coydog might be confusing. Roy MS, Geffen E, Smith D, Ostrander E, Wayne RK. H2 is a haplotype found in a Texas coyote with the 208 allele at locus MS41A. Molecular genetics of pre-1940 red wolves. The fisher is a large type of weasel that does not eat fish (it prefers porcupines). The genealogy and genetic viability of reintroduced Yellowstone grey wolves. The problems with hybrids: setting conservation guidelines. Another female ate her pups. If extensive, hybridization can threaten the genetic integrity or survival of endangered species. All eastern coyotes show some evidence of past hybridization, but there is no sign that they are still actively mating with dogs or wolves. Could evolution eventually lead to a coyote so specialized for eastern forests that they would be considered a unique species? Genetic differentiation at maternal and paternal markers thus allowed us to identify several lineages that had introgressed into another species. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: JL. Ancient hybridization and mitochondrial capture between two species of chipmunks. Based on this distance matrix, a statistical parsimony network was constructed using TCS 1.21 [41]. Roland Kays, Research Associate Professor of Wildlife and Scientist at NC Museum of Natural Sciences, North Carolina State University. Molecular Cloning: a Laboratory Manual. PMC legacy view Sundqvist A-K, Ellegren H, Olivier M, Vil C. Y chromosome haplotyping in Scandinavian wolves. 3a). Kyle CJ, Johnson AR, Patterson BR, Wilson PJ, Shami K, et al. Their DNA show that about 100 years ago, coyotes mated with wolves, and about 50 years ago with dogs. Wrote the paper: FH JL. Hybridization with coyotes currently threatens the reintroduced red wolf population in North Carolina [13]. The lack of reciprocal monophyly between known red wolf and coyote haplotypes makes phylogenetic conclusions regarding introgression considerably more difficult, but adds relevance to the above comparison of variation levels in coyotes from Texas and Nebraska. Hybridization is not solely determined by body size or sex, and density-dependent effects do not fully explain the observed pattern either. With the exception of one coyote from Texas (haplotype H2), all male coyotes carried alleles of sizes 212218 (with 212214 found in >90% of individuals) at Y chromosome microsatellite locus MS41A. The coyote has not evolved into a new species over the last century. Tests show that there are no animals that are just coyote and wolf (that is, a coywolf), and some eastern coyotes that have almost no wolf at all. Hybridization and expansion have created a host of new coyote variations in the east, and evolution is still sorting these out. We identified two Y-chromosome haplotypes in five red wolves from the captive breeding program (Table 3). The genetic signal of introgression was not equal in the different species.
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