Congenital bone deformities and the inbred wolves (Canis lupus) of Isle Royale

摘要: a b s t r c The wolf (Canis lupus) population on Isle Royale, remote island in Lake Superior, North America, is extre- mely inbred. Nevertheless, the consequences of genetic deterioration have not been detected for this intensively studied population, until now. We found that 58% (n = 36) Royale wolves exhibited some kind congenital malformation lumbosacral region vertebral column and 33% exhib- ited specific malformity, transitional vertebrae. By contrast, only 1% (1 99) sampled from two outbred, populations malformity. Moreover, domestic dogs lupus familiaris) vertebrae are associated with cauda equina syndrome, which can cause paresis, paralysis, locomotor difficulties rear legs tail, back pain. Whereas many studies illustrate how affects population-level phenomena, such as survival reproduction, these results distinctive demonstrating has compro- mised morphology individuals free-ranging population. also significant because policy makers stakeholders conservation professionals use examples like to downplay deterioration.