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The genetic structure of the Lithuanian wolf population

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Central European Journal of Biology

Abstract

Lithuanian wolves form part of the larger Baltic population, the distribution of which is continuous across the region. In this paper, we evaluate the genetic diversity of the Lithuanian wolf population using mitochondrial DNA analysis and 29 autosomal microsatellite loci. Analysis of the mtDNA control region (647 bp) revealed 5 haplotypes distributed among 29 individuals and high haplotype diversity (0.658). Two haplotypes were distributed across the country, whilst the others were restricted to eastern Lithuania. Analysis of microsatellites revealed high heterozygosity (HE=0.709) and no evidence for a recent bottleneck. Using detection of first generation migrants, four individuals appeared to assign better with populations genetically differentiated from those resident in Lithuania. These immigrants were males carrying rare mitochondrial haplotypes and were encountered in the eastern part of the country, this indicates that Lithuania is subject to immigration from differentiated populations. Additionally, we did not detect any signs of recent hybridisation with dogs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nature Research Centre, LT-08412, Vilnius, Lithuania

    Laima Baltrūnaitė & Linas Balčiauskas

  2. Grimsö Wildlife Research Station, Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-730 91, Riddarhyttan, Sweden

    Mikael Åkesson

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  1. Laima Baltrūnaitė
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  2. Linas Balčiauskas
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  3. Mikael Åkesson
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Correspondence to Laima Baltrūnaitė.

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Baltrūnaitė, L., Balčiauskas, L. & Åkesson, M. The genetic structure of the Lithuanian wolf population. cent.eur.j.biol. 8, 440–447 (2013). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11535-013-0154-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s11535-013-0154-9

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