Combining phylogenetic and demographic inferences to assess the origin of the genetic diversity in an isolated wolf population

摘要: The survival of isolated small populations is threatened by both demographic and genetic factors. Large carnivores declined for centuries in most Europe due to habitat changes, overhunting their natural prey direct persecution. However, the current rewilding trends are driving many carnivore expand again, possibly reverting erosion diversity. In this study we reassessed extent origin variation Italian wolf population, which expanding after decline isolation. We genotyped wolves from Italy other nine at four mtDNA regions (control-region, ATP6, COIII ND4) 39 autosomal microsatellites. Results phylogenetic analyses assignment procedures confirmed a second private haplotype, belongs haplogroup distributed mostly southern Europe. Coalescent showed that unique haplotypes likely originated during late Pleistocene. ABC simulations concordantly extant south-western started be right last glacial maximum. Thus, standing principally results historical isolation south Alps.