The origin of recently established red fox populations in the United States: translocations or natural range expansions?

摘要: Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are native to boreal and western montane portions of North America but their origins unknown in many lowland areas the United States. were historically absent from much East Coast at time European settlement did not become common until mid-1800s. Some early naturalists described an apparent southward expansion that coincided with anthropogenic habitat changes region. Alternatively, red introduced Europe during Colonial times may have established east subsequently expanded range westward. The fox also was most Extant populations those considered arisen intentional introductions (and by extension putatively European), escapes or releases fur farms, expansions populations. To test these hypotheses we compared mitochondrial DNA sequences (cytochrome b D-loop) 110 individuals 6 recently 327 (primarily historical) Eurasia, Alaska, Canada, northeastern States, contiguous 38 farms. We found no Eurasian haplotypes America, southeastern States parts closely related eastern Canada suggesting they originated natural expansions, translocation lineages, as widely believed prior this study. Similarly, Great Basin Oregon primarily regions, contained a few nonnative American haplotypes. In contrast, Washington southern California nonnative, highly admixed stock clearly resulted intracontinental translocations. Several regions where fur-farm stocks originated. Although translocated contributed genetically extant region, our findings suggest matrilineal ancestry America.