Conservation Genetics of the Endangered Isle Royale Gray Wolf |
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| Authors: | R K WAYNE N LEHMAN D GIRMAN PJP GOGAN D A GILBERT K HANSEN R O PETERSON U S SEAL A EISENHAWER L D MECH RJ KRUMENAKER |
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| Institution: | Department of Biology University of California at Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA 90024, U.S.A.;Voyageurs National Park Box 50 International Falls, MN 56649, U.S.A.;Program Resources Inc. Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center Frederick, MD 21701, U.S.A.;School of Forestry and Wood Products Michigan Technological University Houghton, MI 49931, U.S.A.;CBSG 12101 Johnny Cake Ridge Road Apple Valley, MN 55124, U.S.A.;Department of Biology University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90024, U.S.A, Department of Zoology University of Alberta Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada;U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Patuxent Wildlife Research Center Laurel, MD 20702, U.S.A.;Isle Royale National Park 87 North Ripley Houghton, MI 49931, U.S.A. |
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| Abstract: | Abstract. The small group of wolves on Isle Royale has been studied for over three decades as a model of the relationship between large carnivores and their prey. During the last ten years the population declined from 50 individuals to as few as 12 individuals. The causes of this decline may be food shortages, disease, or reduced genetic variability. We address the issues of genetic variability and relationships of Isle Royale wolves using allozyme electrophoresis, mtDNA restriction-site analysis, and multilocus hypervariable minisatellite DNA analysis (genetic fingerprinting). Our results indicate that approximately 50% of the allozyme heterozygosity has been lost in the island population, a decline similar to that expected if no immigration had occurred from the mainland. The genetic fingerprinting data indicate that the seven sampled Isle Royale wolves are as similar as captive populations of siblings. Surprisingly, the Isle Royale wolves have an mDNA genotype that is very rare on the mainland, being found in only one of 144 mainland wolves ThFF suggests that the remaining Isle Royale wolves areprobably derived from a single female founder |
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