Howling from the past: historical phylogeography and diversity losses in European grey wolves.

摘要: Genetic bottlenecks resulting from human-induced population declines make alarming symbols for the irreversible loss of our natural legacy worldwide. The grey wolf ( Canis lupus ) is an iconic example extreme driven by anthropogenic factors. Here, we assessed genetic signatures 150 years persecution throughout Western Palaearctic high-throughput mitochondrial DNA sequencing historical specimens in unprecedented spatio-temporal framework. Despite Late Pleistocene bottlenecks, show that variation had remained high Europe until last several hundred years. In Europe, where wolves nearly got fully exterminated, diversity dramatically collapsed at turn twentieth century and recolonization few homogeneous relict populations induced drastic shifts composition. By contrast, little displacement steady levels were maintained Eastern European regions, human lesser effects on demography. comparing prehistoric, historic modern patterns diversity, study hence traces timeframe active role decline wolf, emblematic yet controversial animal which symbolizes complex relationship between societies nature conservation.