Noninvasive molecular tracking of colonizing wolf (Canis lupus) packs in the western Italian Alps.

摘要: We used noninvasive methods to obtain genetic and demographic data on the wolf packs (Canis lupus), which are now recolonizing Alps, a century after their eradication. DNA samples, extracted from presumed scats collected in western Italian Alps (Piemonte), were genotyped determine species sex by sequencing parts of mitochondrial (mtDNA) control-region ZFX/ZFY genes. Individual genotypes identified multilocus microsatellite analyses using multiple tubes polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The performance laboratory protocols was affected age samples. quality excremental extracts higher samples freshly snow winter than that older or during summer. Preliminary mtDNA screening all allowed identification good predictor further PCR performances. Wolf, not prey, targets preferentially amplified. Allelic dropout occurred more frequently false alleles, but probability homozygote determinations always < 0.001. A panel six nine microsatellites would allow individual genotypes, also whether related, with identity 0.015. Genealogical relationships among individuals could be determined reliably if number candidate parents 6-8, most them had been sampled correctly genotyped. Genetic indicate colonizing Alpine wolves originate exclusively source population retain high proportion its diversity. Spatial temporal locations kinship analyses, suggest two distinct closely related wolves, plus some unrelated individuals, ranged study areas. This is agreement field observations.