| influence of dingoes on sheep distribution in australia. | to describe the influence of the dingo (canis lupus dingo) on the past, present and future distributions of sheep in australia. | 2013 | 23782018 |
| linking anti-predator behaviour to prey demography reveals limited risk effects of an actively hunting large carnivore. | ecological theory predicts that the diffuse risk cues generated by wide-ranging, active predators should induce prey behavioural responses but not major, population- or community-level consequences. we evaluated the non-consumptive effects (nces) of an active predator, the grey wolf (canis lupus), by simultaneously tracking wolves and the behaviour, body fat, and pregnancy of elk (cervus elaphus), their primary prey in the greater yellowstone ecosystem. when wolves approached within 1 km, elk in ... | 2013 | 23750905 |
| anthropogenic resource subsidies determine space use by australian arid zone dingoes: an improved resource selection modelling approach. | dingoes (canis lupus dingo) were introduced to australia and became feral at least 4,000 years ago. we hypothesized that dingoes, being of domestic origin, would be adaptable to anthropogenic resource subsidies and that their space use would be affected by the dispersion of those resources. we tested this by analyzing resource selection functions (rsfs) developed from gps fixes (locations) of dingoes in arid central australia. using generalized linear mixed-effect models (glmms), we investigated ... | 2013 | 23750191 |
| a range-wide synthesis and timeline for phylogeographic events in the red fox (vulpes vulpes). | many boreo-temperate mammals have a pleistocene fossil record throughout eurasia and north america, but only few have a contemporary distribution that spans this large area. examples of holarctic-distributed carnivores are the brown bear, grey wolf, and red fox, all three ecological generalists with large dispersal capacity and a high adaptive flexibility. while the two former have been examined extensively across their ranges, no phylogeographic study of the red fox has been conducted across it ... | 2013 | 23738594 |
| genetic epidemiology of sarcoptes scabiei in the iberian wolf in asturias, spain. | during the last decades, attempts have been made to understand the molecular epidemiology of sarcoptes scabiei, and to detect and clarify the differences between isolates from different hosts and geographic regions. two main phenomena have been described: (i) host-taxon derived-sarcoptes mite infection in european wild animals (revealing the presence of three separate clusters, namely herbivore-, carnivore- and omnivore-derived sarcoptes populations in europe) and (ii) prey-to-predator sarcoptes ... | 2013 | 23664709 |
| the complete mitochondrial genome of chinese shinjang wolf. | in this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of chinese shinjang wolf (canis lupus desertorum) was sequenced for the first time using blood samples obtained from a female wolf captured from altay in shinjang, china. sequence analysis showed that the genome structure was in accordance with other canidae species and it contains 12s rrna gene, 16s rrna gene, 22 trna genes, 13 protein-coding genes and 1 control region. | 2014 | 23656292 |
| pyrazine analogues are active components of wolf urine that induce avoidance and freezing behaviours in mice. | the common grey wolf (canis lupus) is found throughout the entire northern hemisphere and preys on many kinds of mammals. the urine of the wolf contains a number of volatile constituents that can potentially be used for predator-prey chemosignalling. although wolf urine is put to practical use to keep rabbits, rodents, deer and so on at bay, we are unaware of any prior behavioural studies or chemical analyses regarding the fear-inducing impact of wolf urine on laboratory mice. | 2013 | 23637901 |
| reproductive capability is associated with lifespan and cause of death in companion dogs. | reproduction is a risky affair; a lifespan cost of maintaining reproductive capability, and of reproduction itself, has been demonstrated in a wide range of animal species. however, little is understood about the mechanisms underlying this relationship. most cost-of-reproduction studies simply ask how reproduction influences age at death, but are blind to the subjects' actual causes of death. lifespan is a composite variable of myriad causes of death and it has not been clear whether the consequ ... | 2013 | 23613790 |
| evaluation of medetomidine-ketamine and atipamezole for reversible anesthesia of free-ranging gray wolves (canis lupus). | twenty-eight anesthetic events were carried out on 24 free-ranging scandinavian gray wolves (canis lupus) by darting from a helicopter with 5 mg medetomidine and 250 mg ketamine during winter in 2002 and 2003. mean±sd doses were 0.162±0.008 mg medetomidine/kg and 8.1±0.4 mg ketamine/kg in juveniles (7-10 mo old) and 0.110±0.014 mg medetomidine/kg and 5.7±0.5 mg ketamine/kg in adults (>19 mo old). mean±sd induction time was shorter (p<0.01) in juveniles (2.3±0.8 min) than in adults (4.1±0.6 min). ... | 2013 | 23568917 |
| temporal variation in site fidelity: scale-dependent effects of forage abundance and predation risk in a non-migratory large herbivore. | large herbivores are typically confronted by considerable spatial and temporal variation in forage abundance and predation risk. although animals can employ a range of behaviours to balance these limiting factors, scale-dependent movement patterns are expected to be an effective strategy to reduce predation risk and optimise foraging opportunities. we tested this prediction by quantifying site fidelity of global positioning system-collared, non-migratory female elk (cervus canadensis manitobensi ... | 2013 | 23552985 |
| morphological, biometrical, and molecular characterization of ctenocephalides felis and ctenocephalides canis isolated from dogs from different geographical regions. | in the present work, a comparative morphological, biometrical and molecular study of ctenocephalides spp. isolated from dogs (canis lupus familiaris) from different geographical regions (spain, iran, and south africa) has been carried out. the internal transcribed spacer 1 (its1) sequences of ctenocephalides felis and ctenocephalides canis collected from dogs from different geographical regions have been determined to clarify the taxonomic status of these species and to assess intraspecific vari ... | 2013 | 23525642 |
| kinematic activity of gray wolf (canis lupus) sperm in different extenders, added before or after centrifugation. | we evaluated two approaches to improving in vitro wolf sperm survival. both approaches aimed to reduce the exposure of sperm to prostatic fluid resulting from electroejaculation: (1) use of extender formulations recently developed for the domestic dog (the most closely related domestic species); and (2) dilution of ejaculate shortly after semen collection. three commercial extenders were compared with the tris-based extender we had previously used. we also compared the effects on motility of add ... | 2013 | 23427939 |
| elk migration patterns and human activity influence wolf habitat use in the greater yellowstone ecosystem. | identifying the ecological dynamics underlying human-wildlife conflicts is important for the management and conservation of wildlife populations. in landscapes still occupied by large carnivores, many ungulate prey species migrate seasonally, yet little empirical research has explored the relationship between carnivore distribution and ungulate migration strategy. in this study, we evaluate the influence of elk (cervus elaphus) distribution and other landscape features on wolf (canis lupus) habi ... | 2012 | 23387126 |
| genetic characterization, at the mitochondrial and nuclear dna levels, of five canary island dog breeds. | many studies presenting genetic analysis of dog breeds have been conducted without the inclusion of island dog breeds, although isolation can be one of the main factors in their origin. here we report the genetic analysis at the nuclear and mitochondrial dna levels of five canary island dog breeds (canarian warren hound, canary island mastiff, garafiano shepherd, la palma rat-hunter and el hierro wolfhound) to fill this gap and, at the same time, genetically characterize these breeds. we identif ... | 2013 | 23384391 |
| characterisation of the normal canine serum proteome using a novel electrophoretic technique combined with mass spectrometry. | one dimensional (1d) serum protein electrophoresis (spe) on agarose gels is a frequently used diagnostic tool for canine diseases; however, little is known regarding the precise composition of the different protein fractions in normal or diseased animals. in this study, to analyse the canine serum proteome in more detail, conventional 1d spe was combined with second dimension (2d) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (page), followed by tandem mass spectrometry (ms). one dimensional spe was perfor ... | 2013 | 23369386 |
| iga deficiency in wolves. | low mean concentrations of serum immunoglobulin a (iga) and an increased frequency of overt iga deficiency (igad) in certain dog breeds raises the question whether it is a breeding-enriched phenomenon or a legacy from the dog's ancestor, the gray wolf (canis lupus). the iga concentration in 99 serum samples from 58 free-ranging and 13 captive scandinavian wolves, was therefore measured by capture elisa. the concentrations were markedly lower in the wolf serum samples than in the dog controls. po ... | 2013 | 23352622 |
| detecting hybridization between iranian wild wolf (canis lupus pallipes) and free-ranging domestic dog (canis familiaris) by analysis of microsatellite markers. | the genetic threat due to hybridization with free-ranging dogs is one major concern in wolf conservation. the identification of hybrids and extent of hybridization is important in the conservation and management of wolf populations. genetic variation was analyzed at 15 unlinked loci in 28 dogs, 28 wolves, four known hybrids, two black wolves, and one dog with abnormal traits in iran. pritchard's model, multivariate ordination by principal component analysis and neighbor joining clustering were u ... | 2013 | 23317363 |
| longitudinal analysis of attitudes toward wolves. | understanding individual attitudes and how these predict overt opposition to predator conservation or direct, covert action against predators will help to recover and maintain them. studies of attitudes toward wild animals rely primarily on samples of individuals at a single time point. we examined longitudinal change in individuals' attitudes toward gray wolves (canis lupus). in the contiguous united states, amidst persistent controversy and opposition, abundances of gray wolves are at their hi ... | 2013 | 23293913 |
| hunting effects on favourable conservation status of highly inbred swedish wolves. | the wolf (canis lupus) is classified as endangered in sweden by the swedish species information centre, which is the official authority for threat classification. the present population, which was founded in the early 1980s, descends from 5 individuals. it is isolated and highly inbred, and on average individuals are more related than siblings. hunts have been used by swedish authorities during 2010 and 2011 to reduce the population size to its upper tolerable level of 210 wolves. european union ... | 2013 | 23282216 |
| geometric analysis of macronutrient selection in breeds of the domestic dog, canis lupus familiaris. | although many herbivores and omnivores have been shown to balance their intake of macronutrients when faced with nutritionally variable foods, study of this ability has been relatively neglected in carnivores, largely on the assumption that prey are less variable in nutrient composition than the foods of herbivores and omnivores and such mechanisms therefore unnecessary. we performed diet selection studies in 5 breeds of adult dog (canis lupus familiaris) to determine whether these domesticated ... | 2013 | 23243377 |
| who is who? identification of livestock predators using forensic genetic approaches. | molecular identifications of salivary dna are increasingly applied in wildlife forensic investigations, and are successfully used to identify unknown livestock predators, or elucidate cases of large carnivore attacks to humans. in europe most of livestock predations are attributed to wolves (canis lupus), thought free-ranging dogs are sometime the responsible, and false predations are declared by breeders to obtain compensations. in this study we analyzed 33 salivary dna samples collected from t ... | 2013 | 23200859 |
| implementation uncertainty when using recreational hunting to manage carnivores. | 1. wildlife managers often rely on resource users, such as recreational or commercial hunters, to achieve management goals. the use of hunters to control wildlife populations is especially common for predators and ungulates, but managers cannot assume that hunters will always fill annual quotas set by the authorities. it has been advocated that resource management models should account for uncertainty in how harvest rules are realized, requiring that this implementation uncertainty be estimated. ... | 2012 | 23197878 |
| postnatal neural precursor cell regions in the rostral subventricular zone, hippocampal subgranular zone and cerebellum of the dog (canis lupus familiaris). | identification of neural stem and progenitor cells (npcs) in vitro and in vivo is essential to the use of developmental and disease models of neurogenesis. the dog is a valuable large animal model for multiple neurodegenerative diseases and is more closely matched to humans than rodents with respect to brain organization and complexity. it is therefore important to determine whether immunohistochemical markers associated with npcs in humans and rodents are also appropriate for the dog. the npc m ... | 2013 | 23192285 |
| extensive polymorphism and evidence of selection pressure on major histocompatibility complex dla-drb1, dqa1 and dqb1 class ii genes in croatian grey wolves. | the genes of the major histocompatibility complex (mhc) are a key component of the mammalian immune system and have become important molecular markers for measuring fitness-related genetic variation in wildlife populations. because of human persecution and habitat fragmentation, the grey wolf has become extinct from a large part of western and central europe, and remaining populations have become isolated. in croatia, the grey wolf population, part of the dinaric-balkan population, shrank nearly ... | 2013 | 23134500 |
| object permanence in domestic dogs (canis lupus familiaris) and gray wolves (canis lupus). | recent evidence suggests that phylogenetic constraints exerted on dogs by the process of domestication have altered the ability of dogs to represent the physical world and the displacement of objects. in this study, invisible (experiment 1) and visible (experiment 2) displacement problems were administered to determine whether domestic dogs' and gray wolves' cognitive capacities to infer the position of a hidden object differ. the results revealed that adult dogs and wolves performed similarly i ... | 2013 | 23106804 |
| accessory carpal bone luxation in two gray wolves (canis lupus). | two sibling male castrated gray wolves (canis lupus) developed acute onset right forelimb lameness, one at 8 and the other at 11 yr of age. in both cases, the right carpus was swollen, carpal hyperextension was notable, and the wolves exhibited significant intermittent lameness of the affected limb. radiographs revealed right accessory carpal bone luxation in both cases, with type iii fracture of the accessory carpal bone in one wolf. although carpal bone luxation in domestic dogs is frequently ... | 2012 | 23082537 |
| contagious yawning in domestic dog puppies (canis lupus familiaris): the effect of ontogeny and emotional closeness on low-level imitation in dogs. | contagious yawning is a well-documented phenomenon in humans and has recently attracted much attention from developmental and comparative sciences. the function, development and underlying mechanisms of the phenomenon, however, remain largely unclear. contagious yawning has been demonstrated in dogs and several non-human primate species, and theoretically and empirically associated with empathy in humans and non-human primates. evidence of emotional closeness modulating contagious yawning in dog ... | 2013 | 23076724 |
| bucking the trend in wolf-dog hybridization: first evidence from europe of hybridization between female dogs and male wolves. | studies on hybridization have proved critical for understanding key evolutionary processes such as speciation and adaptation. however, from the perspective of conservation, hybridization poses a concern, as it can threaten the integrity and fitness of many wild species, including canids. as a result of habitat fragmentation and extensive hunting pressure, gray wolf (canis lupus) populations have declined dramatically in europe and elsewhere during recent centuries. small and fragmented populatio ... | 2012 | 23056315 |
| the adaptive value of morphological, behavioural and life-history traits in reproductive female wolves. | reproduction in social organisms is shaped by numerous morphological, behavioural and life-history traits such as body size, cooperative breeding and age of reproduction, respectively. little is known, however, about the relative influence of these different types of traits on reproduction, particularly in the context of environmental conditions that determine their adaptive value. here, we use 14 years of data from a long-term study of wolves (canis lupus) in yellowstone national park, usa, to ... | 2013 | 23043440 |
| developmental validation of mini-dogfiler for degraded canine dna. | dogs (canis lupus familiaris) are kept as pets in 39% of american households and are, therefore, a significant source of potentially probative biological evidence. as with any biological evidence, degradation can occur as a consequence of environmental exposure causing fracturing of the dna and a resulting loss of intact template. degraded human dna analysis has benefited from the application of primer sets that amplify shorter nuclear sequences for core str loci (ministrs), resulting in improve ... | 2013 | 23040244 |
| characterisation of a group of endogenous gammaretroviruses in the canine genome. | bioinformatics were used to identify and characterise 39 pol, 34 gag and five env gammaretroviruses within the canine (canis lupus familiaris) reference genome. these endogenous retroviruses are monophyletic to the canidae, predate the divergence of dogs and foxes and are fixed in 20 canine breeds examined. they are transcribed in normal canine tissue but are unlikely to be replication competent in dogs. | 2013 | 23021955 |
| tandem repeats modify the structure of the canine cd1d gene. | among the cd1 proteins that present lipid antigens to t cells, cd1d is the only one that stimulates a population of t cells with an invariant t-cell receptor known as nkt cells. sequencing of a 722 nucleotide gap in the dog (canis lupus familiaris) genome revealed that the canine cd1d gene lacks a sequence homologous to exon 2 of human cd1d, coding for the start codon and signal peptide. also, the canine cd1d gene contains three different short tandem repeats that disrupt the expected gene struc ... | 2013 | 22988997 |
| rise and fall of a wolf population: genetic diversity and structure during recovery, rapid expansion and drastic decline. | the grey wolves (canis lupus) of finland have had a varied history, with a period of rapid population expansion after the mid-1990s followed by a decline with a current census size of about 140 wolves. here, we investigate the impact of unstable population size and connectivity on genetic diversity and structure in a long-term genetic study of 298 finnish wolves born in 1995-2009 and genotyped for 17 microsatellite loci. during the initial recovery and prior to population expansion, genetic dive ... | 2012 | 22978518 |
| separating spatial search and efficiency rates as components of predation risk. | predation risk is an important driver of ecosystems, and local spatial variation in risk can have population-level consequences by affecting multiple components of the predation process. i use resource selection and proportional hazard time-to-event modelling to assess the spatial drivers of two key components of risk--the search rate (i.e. aggregative response) and predation efficiency rate (i.e. functional response)--imposed by wolves (canis lupus) in a multi-prey system. in my study area, bot ... | 2012 | 22977145 |
| parasite invasion following host reintroduction: a case study of yellowstone's wolves. | wildlife reintroductions select or treat individuals for good health with the expectation that these individuals will fare better than infected animals. however, these individuals, new to their environment, may also be particularly susceptible to circulating infections and this may result in high morbidity and mortality, potentially jeopardizing the goals of recovery. here, using the reintroduction of the grey wolf (canis lupus) into yellowstone national park as a case study, we address the ques ... | 2012 | 22966139 |
| avoidance of roads and selection for recent cutovers by threatened caribou: fitness-rewarding or maladaptive behaviour? | the impact of anthropogenic disturbance on the fitness of prey should depend on the relative effect of human activities on different trophic levels. this verification remains rare, however, especially for large animals. we investigated the functional link between habitat selection of female caribou (rangifer tarandus) and the survival of their calves, a fitness correlate. this top-down controlled population of the threatened forest-dwelling caribou inhabits a managed forest occupied by wolves (c ... | 2012 | 22951736 |
| reviving the african wolf canis lupus lupaster in north and west africa: a mitochondrial lineage ranging more than 6,000 km wide. | the recent discovery of a lineage of gray wolf in north-east africa suggests the presence of a cryptic canid on the continent, the african wolf canis lupus lupaster. we analyzed the mtdna diversity (cytochrome b and control region) of a series of african canis including wolf-like animals from north and west africa. our objectives were to assess the actual range of c. l. lupaster, to further estimate the genetic characteristics and demographic history of its lineage, and to question its taxonomic ... | 2012 | 22900047 |
| relative efficacy of human social interaction and food as reinforcers for domestic dogs and hand-reared wolves. | despite the intimate relationship dogs share with humans in western society, we know relatively little about the variables that produce and maintain dog social behavior towards humans. one possibility is that human social interaction is itself a reinforcer for dog behavior. as an initial assessment of the variables that might maintain dog social behavior, we compared the relative efficacy of brief human social interaction to a small piece of food as a reinforcer for an arbitrary response (nose t ... | 2012 | 22851794 |
| spatial and temporal changes in group dynamics and range use enable anti-predator responses in african buffalo. | the reintroduction of large predators provides a framework to investigate responses by prey species to predators. considerable research has been directed at the impact that reintroduced wolves (canis lupus) have on cervids, and to a lesser degree, bovids, in northern temperate regions. generally, these impacts alter feeding, activity, and ranging behavior, or combinations of these. however, there are few studies on the response of african bovids to reintroduced predators, and thus, there is limi ... | 2012 | 22834371 |
| consensus on criteria for potential areas for wolf reintroduction in mexico. | given the conflict with human interests that in many cases results in the extirpation of large carnivores, acceptance of their reintroduction is a considerable challenge. by the 1980s mexican wolves (canis lupus) were extinct in the wild. in 1998 a population was reintroduced in the blue range mountains of new mexico (u.s.a.). efforts to reintroduce the species in mexico have been ongoing since the late 1980s. four teams working independently identified 6 areas in northern mexico in the historic ... | 2012 | 22809352 |
| molecular detection of tick-borne bacterial agents in brazilian and exotic captive carnivores. | the present study aims to detect and characterize by molecular techniques, the presence of tick-borne pathogens in wild captive carnivore blood samples from brazil. blood was collected from 76 brazilian felids, 23 exotic felids, 3 european wolves (canis lupus), and 97 brazilian canids maintained in captivity in zoos located in são paulo and mato grosso states, brazil. dna of each sample was used in pcr reactions for ehrlichia, anaplasma, and rickettsia identification. the blood from 10/100 (10%) ... | 2012 | 22749737 |
| sry-positive 78, xy ovotesticular disorder of sex development in a wolf cloned by nuclear transfer. | recently, we reported the three wolves cloning with normal karyotype from somatic cells of endangered male gray wolves (canis lupus), but one wolf had female external genitalia. in this study, we conducted further clinical, histological, and genetic analyses. this cloned wolf had a normal uterus but developed ovotestis. through molecular analysis of the sry gene, a mutation in the coding sequence of sry gene could be excluded as a cause of intersexuality. this is the first report of a cloned wol ... | 2012 | 22705746 |
| table scraps: inter-trophic food provisioning by pumas. | large carnivores perform keystone ecological functions through direct predation, or indirectly, through food subsidies to scavengers or trophic cascades driven by their influence on the distributions of their prey. pumas (puma concolor) are an elusive, cryptic species difficult to study and little is known about their inter-trophic-level interactions in natural communities. using new gps technology, we discovered that pumas in patagonia provided 232 ± 31 kg of edible meat/month/100 km(2) to near ... | 2012 | 22696284 |
| narrow genetic basis for the australian dingo confirmed through analysis of paternal ancestry. | the dingo (canis lupus dingo) is an iconic animal in the native culture of australia, but archaeological and molecular records indicate a relatively recent history on the continent. studies of mitochondrial dna (mtdna) imply that the current dingo population was founded by a small population of already tamed dogs from southeast asia. however, the maternal genetic data might give a unilateral picture, and the gene pool has yet to be screened for paternal ancestry. we sequenced 14,437 bp of the y- ... | 2012 | 22618967 |
| rethinking dog domestication by integrating genetics, archeology, and biogeography. | the dog was the first domesticated animal but it remains uncertain when the domestication process began and whether it occurred just once or multiple times across the northern hemisphere. to ascertain the value of modern genetic data to elucidate the origins of dog domestication, we analyzed 49,024 autosomal snps in 1,375 dogs (representing 35 breeds) and 19 wolves. after combining our data with previously published data, we contrasted the genetic signatures of 121 breeds with a worldwide archeo ... | 2012 | 22615366 |
| dna sequence variants in the carbonyl reductase 1 (cbr1) gene in seven breeds of canis lupus familiaris. | the anticancer anthracyclines doxorubicin and daunorubicin are used to treat a variety of cancers in dogs. the therapeutic utility of anthracyclines is limited by cardiotoxicity in some cases. synthesis of anthracycline alcohol metabolites by carbonyl reductase 1 (cbr1) is crucial for the pathogenesis of cardiotoxicity. we hypothesize that genetic polymorphisms in canine cbr1 contribute to the variable pharmacodynamics of anthracyclines in dogs. dna sequence variants in canine cbr1 were investig ... | 2012 | 22614280 |
| effect of β-mannanase on the digestibility of diets with different protein sources in dogs determined by different methodologies. | this experiment aimed at evaluating the effects of including the enzyme, β-mannanase, in dog (canis lupus familiaris) diets based on either poultry (gallus gallus domesticus) by-product meal (pbm) or soybean [glycine max (l.) merr.] meal (sbm). the second objective was to evaluate 3 methods for determining energy and nutrient digestibility values in diets fed to dogs: total fecal collection (tfc) and use of aia or crude fiber (cf) as a marker. eight dogs were allotted to a replicated latin squar ... | 2012 | 22585789 |
| do dogs (canis lupus familiaris) make counterproductive choices because they are sensitive to human ostensive cues? | dogs appear to be sensitive to human ostensive communicative cues in a variety of situations, however there is still a measure of controversy as to the way in which these cues influence human-dog interactions. there is evidence for instance that dogs can be led into making evaluation errors in a quantity discrimination task, for example losing their preference for a larger food quantity if a human shows a preference for a smaller one, yet there is, so far, no explanation for this phenomenon. usi ... | 2012 | 22558150 |
| ectoparasite infestation patterns of domestic dogs in suburban and rural areas in borneo. | domestic dogs, canis lupus, have been one of the longest companions of humans and have introduced their own menagerie of parasites and pathogens into this relationship. here, we investigate the parasitic load of 212 domestic dogs with fleas (siphonaptera) chewing lice (phthiraptera), and ticks (acarina) along a gradient from rural areas with near-natural forest cover to suburban areas in northern borneo (sabah, malaysia). we used a spatially-explicit hierarchical bayesian model that allowed us t ... | 2012 | 22526293 |
| new insight into the genomic structure of dog t cell receptor beta (trb) locus inferred from expression analysis. | here is an updated report on the genomic organization of t cell receptor beta (trb) locus in the domestic dog (canis lupus familiaris) as inferred from comparative genomics and expression analysis. the most interesting results we found were a second trbd-j-c cluster, which is absent from the reference genome sequence, and the annotation of two additional trbv genes. in dogs, trb locus consists of a library of 37 trbv genes positioned at the 5' end of two in tandem aligned d-j-c gene clusters, ea ... | 2012 | 22465586 |
| identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms within the mtdna genome of the domestic dog to discriminate individuals with common hvi haplotypes. | we sequenced the entire ∼16 kb canine mitochondrial genome (mtgenome) of 100 unrelated domestic dogs (canis lupus familiaris) and compared these to 246 published sequences to assess hypervariable region i (hvi) haplotype frequencies. we then used all available sequences to identify informative single nucleotide polymorphisms (snps) outside of the control region for use in further resolving mtdna haplotypes corresponding to common hvi haplotypes. haplotype frequencies in our data set were highly ... | 2012 | 22436122 |
| comparative oncology: erbb-1 and erbb-2 homologues in canine cancer are susceptible to cetuximab and trastuzumab targeting. | to facilitate comparative oncology trials we compared the biological and molecular homologies of canine (dog; canis lupus familiaris) and human tumor-associated antigens erbb-1 and -2. further, we investigated whether they could serve as targets for anti-erbb-1 (cetuximab) and anti-erbb-2 antibodies (trastuzumab), which are highly relevant in human clinical oncology. immunohistochemistry of canine mammary cancer showed erbb-1 overexpression in 3/10 patients and erbb-2 in 4/10. we report 91% amin ... | 2012 | 22424313 |
| how linear features alter predator movement and the functional response. | in areas of oil and gas exploration, seismic lines have been reported to alter the movement patterns of wolves (canis lupus). we developed a mechanistic first passage time model, based on an anisotropic elliptic partial differential equation, and used this to explore how wolf movement responses to seismic lines influence the encounter rate of the wolves with their prey. the model was parametrized using 5 min gps location data. these data showed that wolves travelled faster on seismic lines and h ... | 2012 | 22419990 |
| when does an alien become a native species? a vulnerable native mammal recognizes and responds to its long-term alien predator. | the impact of alien predators on native prey populations is often attributed to prey naiveté towards a novel threat. yet evolutionary theory predicts that alien predators cannot remain eternally novel; prey species must either become extinct or learn and adapt to the new threat. as local enemies lose their naiveté and coexistence becomes possible, an introduced species must eventually become 'native'. but when exactly does an alien become a native species? the dingo (canis lupus dingo) was intro ... | 2012 | 22355396 |
| influence of dietary protein content and source on colonic fermentative activity in dogs differing in body size and digestive tolerance. | low-consistency, high-moisture feces have been observed in large dogs (canis lupus familiaris), compared with small dogs, and particularly in sensitive breeds (e.g., german shepherd dogs). the aim of this work was to determine if greater colonic protein fermentation is responsible for poorer fecal quality in large sensitive dogs. twenty-seven bitches were allotted to 4 groups based on size and digestive sensitivity: small, medium, large tolerant, and large sensitive. five experimental diets vary ... | 2012 | 22328724 |
| seasonal patterns of predation for gray wolves in the multi-prey system of yellowstone national park. | 1. for large predators living in seasonal environments, patterns of predation are likely to vary among seasons because of related changes in prey vulnerability. variation in prey vulnerability underlies the influence of predators on prey populations and the response of predators to seasonal variation in rates of biomass acquisition. despite its importance, seasonal variation in predation is poorly understood. 2. we assessed seasonal variation in prey composition and kill rate for wolves canis lu ... | 2012 | 22260633 |
| mhc class ii is an important genetic risk factor for canine systemic lupus erythematosus (sle)-related disease: implications for reproductive success. | major histocompatibility complex (mhc) class ii genes are important genetic risk factors for development of immune-mediated diseases in mammals. recently, the dog (canis lupus familiaris) has emerged as a useful model organism to identify critical mhc class ii genotypes that contribute to development of these diseases. therefore, a study aimed to evaluate a potential genetic association between the dog leukocyte antigen (dla) class ii region and an immune-mediated disease complex in dogs of the ... | 2012 | 22212209 |
| top predators as biodiversity regulators: the dingo canis lupus dingo as a case study. | top-order predators often have positive effects on biological diversity owing to their key functional roles in regulating trophic cascades and other ecological processes. their loss has been identified as a major factor contributing to the decline of biodiversity in both aquatic and terrestrial systems. consequently, restoring and maintaining the ecological function of top predators is a critical global imperative. here we review studies of the ecological effects of the dingo canis lupus dingo, ... | 2012 | 22051057 |
| use of linkage mapping and centrality analysis across habitat gradients to conserve connectivity of gray wolf populations in western north america. | centrality metrics evaluate paths between all possible pairwise combinations of sites on a landscape to rank the contribution of each site to facilitating ecological flows across the network of sites. computational advances now allow application of centrality metrics to landscapes represented as continuous gradients of habitat quality. this avoids the binary classification of landscapes into patch and matrix required by patch-based graph analyses of connectivity. it also avoids the focus on deli ... | 2012 | 22010832 |
| movements of wolves at the northern extreme of the species' range, including during four months of darkness. | information about wolf (canis lupus) movements anywhere near the northern extreme of the species' range in the high arctic (>75°n latitude) are lacking. there, wolves prey primarily on muskoxen (ovibos moschatus) and must survive 4 months of 24 hr/day winter darkness and temperatures reaching -53 c. the extent to which wolves remain active and prey on muskoxen during the dark period are unknown, for the closest area where information is available about winter wolf movements is >2,250 km south. w ... | 2011 | 21991308 |
| wolf-pack (canis lupus) hunting strategies emerge from simple rules in computational simulations. | we have produced computational simulations of multi-agent systems in which wolf agents chase prey agents. we show that two simple decentralized rules controlling the movement of each wolf are enough to reproduce the main features of the wolf-pack hunting behavior: tracking the prey, carrying out the pursuit, and encircling the prey until it stops moving. the rules are (1) move towards the prey until a minimum safe distance to the prey is reached, and (2) when close enough to the prey, move away ... | 2011 | 21963347 |
| songbird response to increased willow (salix spp.) growth in yellowstone's northern range. | after nearly a century of height suppression, willows (salix spp.) in the northern range of yellowstone national park, u.s.a., are increasing in height growth as a possible consequence of wolf (canis lupus) restoration, climate change, or other factors. regardless of the drivers, the recent release of this rare but important habitat type could have significant implications for associated songbirds that are exhibiting declines in the region. our objective was to evaluate bird response to releasin ... | 2011 | 21939061 |
| shoot, shovel and shut up: cryptic poaching slows restoration of a large carnivore in europe. | poaching is a widespread and well-appreciated problem for the conservation of many threatened species. because poaching is illegal, there is strong incentive for poachers to conceal their activities, and consequently, little data on the effects of poaching on population dynamics are available. quantifying poaching mortality should be a required knowledge when developing conservation plans for endangered species but is hampered by methodological challenges. we show that rigorous estimates of the ... | 2012 | 21849323 |
| going coastal: shared evolutionary history between coastal british columbia and southeast alaska wolves (canis lupus). | many coastal species occupying the temperate rainforests of the pacific northwest in north america comprise endemic populations genetically and ecologically distinct from interior continental conspecifics. morphological variation previously identified among wolf populations resulted in recognition of multiple subspecies of wolves in the pacific northwest. recently, separate genetic studies have identified diverged populations of wolves in coastal british columbia and coastal southeast alaska, pr ... | 2011 | 21573241 |
| model sensitivity and use of the comparative finite element method in mammalian jaw mechanics: mandible performance in the gray wolf. | finite element analysis (fea) is a powerful tool gaining use in studies of biological form and function. this method is particularly conducive to studies of extinct and fossilized organisms, as models can be assigned properties that approximate living tissues. in disciplines where model validation is difficult or impossible, the choice of model parameters and their effects on the results become increasingly important, especially in comparing outputs to infer function. to evaluate the extent to w ... | 2011 | 21559475 |
| the predatory behaviour of the thylacine: tasmanian tiger or marsupial wolf? | the extinct thylacine (thylacinus cynocephalus) and the extant grey wolf (canis lupus) are textbook examples of convergence between marsupials and placentals. craniodental studies confirm the thylacine's carnivorous diet, but little attention has been paid to its postcranial skeleton, which would confirm or refute rare eyewitness reports of a more ambushing predatory mode than the pack-hunting pursuit mode of wolves and other large canids. here we show that thylacines had the elbow morphology ty ... | 2011 | 21543392 |
| [population, distribution and food composition of wolves (canis lupus) at saihanwula nature reserve, inner mongolia]. | to provide initial value for population restoration and management of wolves (canis lupus) in the wild, line transect survey and fecal analysis method were used to study the population ecology of wolf at saihanwula national nature reserve, inner mongolia. the results revealed that the population number was at least seven within the reserve and population density was 4.18+/-2.88 individual per 100 km2. the wolf population was mainly distributed in shengshan and qinyunshan core areas; active sites ... | 2011 | 21509971 |
| [a new approach to study organization of wolves' activity (canis lupus) in temporal sequences]. | a group of four wolves 1-7 months old was observed. the wolves were kept in 1.5 hectare forest aviaries. twenty-four-hour observation was performed once every 7-10 days in summertime and once every 15-20 days in autumn. using the time slice method, the activity type of each animal was registered each minute. eighteen types of activity were recorded. the sequential stream of activity of all four animals was analyzed to find time patterns that are repetitive events not randomly following each othe ... | 2016 | 21506394 |
| effect of sociality and season on gray wolf (canis lupus) foraging behavior: implications for estimating summer kill rate. | understanding how kill rates vary among seasons is required to understand predation by vertebrate species living in temperate climates. unfortunately, kill rates are only rarely estimated during summer. | 2011 | 21390256 |
| restoration of genetic connectivity among northern rockies wolf populations. | probably no conservation genetics issue is currently more controversial than the question of whether grey wolves (canis lupus) in the northern rockies have recovered to genetically effective levels. following the dispersal-based recolonization of northwestern montana from canada, and reintroductions to yellowstone and central idaho, wolves have vastly exceeded population recovery goals of 300 wolves distributed in at least 10 breeding pairs in each of wyoming, idaho and montana. with >1700 wolve ... | 2010 | 21040035 |
| cadmium, copper, iron, and zinc concentrations in kidneys of grey wolves, canis lupus, from alaska, idaho, montana (usa) and the northwest territories (canada). | cadmium, copper, iron, and zinc levels were measured in the kidneys of 115 grey wolves (canis lupus) from idaho, montana and alaska (united states), and from the northwest territories (canada). no significant differences in the levels of iron or copper were observed between locations, but wolf kidneys from more northern locations had significantly higher cadmium levels (alaska > northwest territories > montana ≈ idaho), and wolves from alaska showed significantly higher zinc than other locations ... | 2010 | 20972865 |
| sympatric wolf and coyote populations of the western great lakes region are reproductively isolated. | interpretation of the genetic composition and taxonomic history of wolves in the western great lakes region (wglr) of the united states has long been debated and has become more important to their conservation given the recent changes in their status under the endangered species act. currently, the two competing hypotheses on wglr wolves are that they resulted from hybridization between (i) grey wolves (canis lupus) and western coyotes (c. latrans) or (ii) between grey wolves and eastern wolves ... | 2010 | 20854277 |
| a novel assessment of population structure and gene flow in grey wolf populations of the northern rocky mountains of the united states. | the successful re-introduction of grey wolves to the western united states is an impressive accomplishment for conservation science. however, the degree to which subpopulations are genetically structured and connected, along with the preservation of genetic variation, is an important concern for the continued viability of the metapopulation. we analysed dna samples from 555 northern rocky mountain wolves from the three recovery areas (greater yellowstone area, montana, and idaho), including all ... | 2010 | 20723068 |
| predator control promotes invasive dominated ecological states. | invasive species are regarded as one of the top five drivers of the global extinction crisis. in response, extreme measures have been applied in an attempt to control or eradicate invasives, with little success overall. we tested the idea that state shifts to invasive dominance are symptomatic of losses in ecosystem resilience, due to the suppression of apex predators. this concept was investigated in australia where the high rate of mammalian extinctions is largely attributed to the destructive ... | 2010 | 20545732 |
| osteological and genetic analysis of the extinct ezo wolf (canis lupus hattai) from hokkaido island, japan. | the ezo wolf (canis lupus hattai kishida, 1931 ) is an extinct subspecies that inhabited hokkaido in japan until the middle of the meiji period. because there are very few preserved skeletons, no osteological and/or genetic analyses of the ezo wolf have been conducted. in this study, 20 cranial and eight mandibular characters were measured on ezo wolf skeletons, and mitochondrial dna (mtdna) was analyzed to assess genetic relationships between the ezo wolf and other wolf lineages, including the ... | 2010 | 20377350 |
| are inland wolf-ungulate systems influenced by marine subsidies of pacific salmon? | wolves (canis lupus) in north america are considered obligate predators of ungulates with other food resources playing little role in wolf population dynamics or wolf prey relations. however, spawning pacific salmon (oncorhyncus spp.) are common throughout wolf range in northwestern north america and may provide a marine subsidy affecting inland wolf-ungulate food webs far from the coast. we conducted stable-isotope analyses for nitrogen and carbon to evaluate the contribution of salmon to diets ... | 2010 | 20349845 |
| phylogenetic analysis of 16s rrna gene sequences reveals distal gut bacterial diversity in wild wolves (canis lupus). | the aim of this study was to describe the microbial communities in the distal gut of wild wolves (canis lupus). fecal samples were collected from three healthy unrelated adult wolves captured at the nearby of dalai lake nature reserve in inner mongolia of china. the diversity of fecal bacteria was investigated by constructing pcr-amplified 16s rrna gene clone libraries using the universal bacterial primers 27 f and 1493 r. a total of 307 non-chimeric near-full-length 16s rrna gene sequences were ... | 2010 | 20306230 |
| genetic differentiation of eastern wolves in algonquin park despite bridging gene flow between coyotes and grey wolves. | distinguishing genetically differentiated populations within hybrid zones and determining the mechanisms by which introgression occurs are crucial for setting effective conservation policy. extensive hybridization among grey wolves (canis lupus), eastern wolves (c. lycaon) and coyotes (c. latrans) in eastern north america has blurred species distinctions, creating a canis hybrid swarm. using complementary genetic markers, we tested the hypotheses that eastern wolves have acted as a conduit of se ... | 2010 | 20160760 |
| hematology and serum clinical chemistry reference intervals for free-ranging scandinavian gray wolves (canis lupus). | scandinavian free-ranging wolves (canis lupus) are endangered, such that laboratory data to assess their health status is increasingly important. although wolves have been studied for decades, most biological information comes from captive animals. | 2009 | 19192262 |
| landscape heterogeneity and marine subsidy generate extensive intrapopulation niche diversity in a large terrestrial vertebrate. | 1. inquiries into niche variation within populations typically focus on proximate ecological causes such as competition. here we examine how landscape heterogeneity and allochthonous (marine) subsidy might ultimately generate intrapopulation niche diversity. 2. using stable isotope analysis, we detected extensive terrestrial-marine isotopic niche variation among subpopulations, social groups, and individual grey wolves (canis lupus) that occupy a spatially heterogeneous landscape in coastal brit ... | 2009 | 19120600 |
| genetic analysis of historic western great lakes region wolf samples reveals early canis lupus/lycaon hybridization. | the genetic status of wolves in the western great lakes region has received increased attention following the decision to remove them from protection under the us endangered species act. a recent study of mitochondrial dna has suggested that the recovered wolf population is not genetically representative of the historic population. we present microsatellite genotype data on three historic samples and compare them with extant populations, and interpret published genetic data to show that the pre- ... | 2009 | 18940770 |
| the vector of jaw muscle force as determined by computer-generated three dimensional simulation: a test of greaves' model. | we present results from a detailed three-dimensional finite element analysis of the cranium and mandible of the australian dingo (canis lupus dingo) during a range of feeding activities and compare results with predictions based on two-dimensional methodology [greaves, w.s., 2000. location of the vector of jaw muscle force in mammals. journal of morphology 243, 293-299]. greaves showed that the resultant muscle vector intersects the mandible line slightly posterior to the lower third molar (m3). ... | 2008 | 18838138 |
| spawning salmon disrupt trophic coupling between wolves and ungulate prey in coastal british columbia. | as a cross-boundary resource subsidy, spawning salmon can strongly affect consumer and ecosystem ecology. here we examine whether this marine resource can influence a terrestrial wolf-deer (canis lupus-odocoileus hemionus) predator-prey system in coastal british columbia, canada. data on resource availability and resource use among eight wolf groups for three seasons over four years allow us to evaluate competing hypotheses that describe salmon as either an alternate resource, consumed in areas ... | 2008 | 18764930 |
| quantification of sexual steroid hormones in faeces of iberian wolf (canis lupus signatus): a non-invasive sex typing method. | the determination of gender in wild animals is essential for behavioural and ecological studies, and also for conservation. the objectives of this study were (i) the determination of gender in faecal samples of iberian wolf based on the differential concentrations of sexual steroid hormones (ssh) and (ii) to analyse the profiles of ssh in males and females (considering the gender determination carried out previously) during the non-reproductive and reproductive periods. the quantification of and ... | 2008 | 18422862 |
| relationships between sex and stress hormone levels in feces and marking behavior in a wild population of iberian wolves (canis lupus signatus). | feces deposited by the breeding alpha pair on exposed substrates and/or zones may act as visual and olfactory marks associated with social dominance in wolves. the aim of this study was to determine if there was a correlation between marking behavior, sex hormone levels, and physiological stress in a wild population of iberian wolves in northwest spain. the glucocorticoid and sex hormone levels were measured in feces collected as a function of exposure (conspicuous/inconspicuous), height (above ... | 2008 | 18392658 |
| subcutaneous leiomyosarcoma in a captive european wolf (canis lupus). | | 2007 | 17890776 |
| the genealogy and genetic viability of reintroduced yellowstone grey wolves. | the recovery of the grey wolf in yellowstone national park is an outstanding example of a successful reintroduction. a general question concerning reintroduction is the degree to which genetic variation has been preserved and the specific behavioural mechanisms that enhance the preservation of genetic diversity and reduce inbreeding. we have analysed 200 yellowstone wolves, including all 31 founders, for variation in 26 microsatellite loci over the 10-year reintroduction period (1995-2004). the ... | 2008 | 17877715 |
| computer simulation of feeding behaviour in the thylacine and dingo as a novel test for convergence and niche overlap. | the extinct marsupial thylacine (thylacinus cynocephalus) and placental grey wolf (canis lupus) are commonly presented as an iconic example of convergence. however, various analyses suggest distinctly different behaviours and specialization towards either relatively small or large prey in the thylacine, bringing the degree of apparent convergence into question. here we apply a powerful engineering tool, three-dimensional finite element analysis incorporating multiple material properties for bone ... | 2007 | 17785272 |
| historical and ecological determinants of genetic structure in arctic canids. | wolves (canis lupus) and arctic foxes (alopex lagopus) are the only canid species found throughout the mainland tundra and arctic islands of north america. contrasting evolutionary histories, and the contemporary ecology of each species, have combined to produce their divergent population genetic characteristics. arctic foxes are more variable than wolves, and both island and mainland fox populations possess similarly high microsatellite variation. these differences result from larger effective ... | 2007 | 17688546 |
| genetic rescue and inbreeding depression in mexican wolves. | although inbreeding can reduce individual fitness and contribute to population extinction, gene flow between inbred but unrelated populations may overcome these effects. among extant mexican wolves (canis lupus baileyi), inbreeding had reduced genetic diversity and potentially lowered fitness, and as a result, three unrelated captive wolf lineages were merged beginning in 1995. we examined the effect of inbreeding and the merging of the founding lineages on three fitness traits in the captive po ... | 2007 | 17609180 |
| megafaunal extinctions and the disappearance of a specialized wolf ecomorph. | the gray wolf (canis lupus) is one of the few large predators to survive the late pleistocene megafaunal extinctions [1]. nevertheless, wolves disappeared from northern north america in the late pleistocene, suggesting they were affected by factors that eliminated other species. using skeletal material collected from pleistocene permafrost deposits of eastern beringia, we present a comprehensive analysis of an extinct vertebrate by exploring genetic (mtdna), morphologic, and isotopic (delta(13)c ... | 2007 | 17583509 |
| estimating the number of founder lineages from haplotypes of closely linked snps. | we consider an isolated population founded by a small number of individuals randomly chosen from a source population of known genetic composition at a known time in the past. we develop a monte-carlo maximum-likelihood method for estimating the number of founding individuals from the haplotype frequencies at several snp (single nucleotide polymorphism) loci in a sample. we assume the isolated population was founded recently enough that that mutation can be ignored and that haplotype frequencies ... | 2007 | 17561887 |
| phylogenetic studies of dogs with emphasis on japanese and asian breeds. | the first domestication of the dog occurred in east asia, and major ancestor of the dog was a wolf subspecies, canis lupus chanco. this finding derives from data on the nucleotide sequences of mtdna and the frequency of genes controlling blood protein polymorphisms in various subspecies of wolves and dog breeds around the world. the results of the allele frequency distribution of genes controlling 16 blood protein polymorphisms, and the incidence of dogs possessing erythrocytes with high potassi ... | 2007 | 25792769 |
| severe inbreeding depression in a wild wolf (canis lupus) population. | the difficulty of obtaining pedigrees for wild populations has hampered the possibility of demonstrating inbreeding depression in nature. in a small, naturally restored, wild population of grey wolves in scandinavia, founded in 1983, we constructed a pedigree for 24 of the 28 breeding pairs established in the period 1983-2002. ancestry for the breeding animals was determined through a combination of field data (snow tracking and radio telemetry) and dna microsatellite analysis. the population wa ... | 2005 | 17148117 |
| ecological factors influence population genetic structure of european grey wolves. | although the mechanisms controlling gene flow among populations are particularly important for evolutionary processes, they are still poorly understood, especially in the case of large carnivoran mammals with extensive continuous distributions. we studied the question of factors affecting population genetic structure in the grey wolf, canis lupus, one of the most mobile terrestrial carnivores. we analysed variability in mitochondrial dna and 14 microsatellite loci for a sample of 643 individuals ... | 2006 | 17107481 |
| [the antimony conflict]. | antimony, which was already well known to the ancients, in the middle ages was known as lupus metallorurn--the grey wolf--a key material in alchemists' attempts at purifying gold. over subsequent centuries antimony returned within the bounds of conventional scientific and experimental knowledge, but inspired numerous studies, works of literature and investigations in important fields of medicine. antimony has always aroused more interest than one might expect from a simple metal. the fact that i ... | 2013 | 17009674 |
| genetic diversity, population structure, effective population size and demographic history of the finnish wolf population. | the finnish wolf population (canis lupus) was sampled during three different periods (1996-1998, 1999-2001 and 2002-2004), and 118 individuals were genotyped with 10 microsatellite markers. large genetic variation was found in the population despite a recent demographic bottleneck. no spatial population subdivision was found even though a significant negative relationship between genetic relatedness and geographic distance suggested isolation by distance. very few individuals did not belong to t ... | 2006 | 16629811 |
| gnrh-agonist induction of fertile estrus with either natural mating or artificial insemination, followed by birth of pups in gray wolves (canis lupus). | although captive populations of endangered species such as the mexican gray wolf (canis lupus baileyi) can benefit from artificial insemination to accomplish genetic exchange, reliable techniques for timing insemination are lacking. we used the generic gray wolf (c. lupus) to test the efficacy of a short-acting gnrh-agonist implant, deslorelin, for inducing estrus. of five females receiving implants on 17 or 18 january 2003, two mated naturally 10-17 days later, and the others were artificially ... | 2006 | 16469367 |
| evaluation of the cardiovascular effects of an anaesthetic protocol for immobilization and anaesthesia in grey wolves (canis lupus l, 1758). | | 2005 | 16244983 |
| the importance of crossroads in faecal marking behaviour of the wolves (canis lupus). | for wolves (canis lupus) scats play an important function in territorial marking behaviour. depositing scats at strategic sites such as crossroads and on conspicuous substrates probably increases their effectiveness as visual and olfactory marks. it is therefore likely that scats will be deposited, and will accumulate, at particular crossroads where the probability of being detected by other wolves is greatest. to check this hypothesis, a wolf population in nw spain was studied for two consecuti ... | 2004 | 15349691 |