Ecological factors influence population genetic structure of European grey wolves.

摘要: Although the mechanisms controlling gene flow among populations are particularly important for evolutionary processes, they still poorly understood, especially in case of large carnivoran mammals with extensive continuous distributions. We studied question factors affecting population genetic structure grey wolf, Canis lupus, one most mobile terrestrial carnivores. analysed variability mitochondrial DNA and 14 microsatellite loci a sample 643 individuals from 59 localities representing wolf range Eastern Europe. tested an array geographical, historical ecological to check whether may explain differentiation local populations. showed that Europe displayed nonrandom spatial absence obvious physical barriers movement. Neither topographic nor past fragmentation could structure. However, we found was correlated climate, habitat types, diet composition. This result shows processes strongly influence amount suggest natal-habitat-biased dispersal as underlying mechanism linking ecology