Miller 1

Molly Miller
BIOL-3700
September 25, 2016

Wolves and coyotes, and anything in between

Coyotes and wolves are considered different species, but in recent

years the two species have been interrelated to the point that two commonly
recognized species of wolves, the eastern wolf and the red wolf, might have
more coyote DNA than originally thought. These new observations have
created the argument as to how the species involved should be protected to
allow for the best possible environmental impact. The main problem with
hybridization has to do with conservation laws and how they lack the
protocol to handle interspecies mating and the subsequent offspring. For
example eastern wolves should have 50% of gray wolf DNA but because gray
wolf protected territory does not extend to eastern wolf protected territory
they are unable to interbreed thus resulting in a dilution of gray wolf related
DNA ranging from 39% to 47%. Protection of hybrid species should be
monitored and allowed to take its course, considering that these breeds are
more closely related than previously thought. As well protection of the
species engaging in hybridization should be extended as in the opinion of

Miller 2

VnHoldts discussion, by allowing hybridization it would more likely balance

out the problem of overabundance of coyote dna in wolf species.
Coyotes gray wolves and their various relatives are interbreed and
create fertile offspring; many purebred species have interbred to create
diluted species and some worry this could have lasting effects. By looking at
the polymerase cycling patterns within various canines by VonHoldts team
they were able to find three specific differences within the DNA of wolves
that coyotes do not have (VonHoldt et. al.). These variations would prove
how much wolf DNA was found in the collection of coyotes and wolves
tested, if they had an interbred ancestry, they would be able to see it and
decide how mixed the species was, what they found was that many
members of the red wolf species were far more mixed than anticipated
(VonHoldt et. al.). Although the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service see red wolves
and coyotes as different species that only occasionally interbred, being
blocked by environmental factors and such, it was found that red wolves
could have anywhere from 48% to 88% coyote ancestry, proving that there
was more gene flow than expected (VonHoldt et. al., & U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service). The main surprise in this is that red wolves have been highly
monitored and kept pure to preserve their genetic line, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service has used several management strategies to keep coyote
DNA out of the red wolf, including sterilization of coyotes and hybrids to be
released in historical red wolf territories (Rabon 5, & 6). Although the
management strategies helped to expand red wolf territories, the shrinking

Miller 3

of environments due to environmental encroachment by humans and the

lack of breeding partners within the territories also play a part in the
dwindling of red wolf populations (Rabon 6 & 12, VonHoldt et. al.).
It is noted that the coyote and the red wolf had the most gene flow
however the other species of wolves that were found within North America
all had a sizable gene drift, but as far south as Mexico had no coyote
genetics, however these wolves are highly endangered and their data was
gathered from a group of wolves within a breeding program. Wolves
gathered from north of the Canadian border were found to have coyote
genes but only around 8%. The only canines found to have no coyote genes
were common dogs, or those found off the North American continent such as
Eurasian wolves. Another important note is that canines with purer ancestry
were often bred in captivity to be released into the wild later. An important
fact found from VonHoldts research is that the eastern wolf and the red wolf
species are not nearly as old as once thought, and in fact claims the red wolf
to be a hybrid of coyotes and gray wolves that may have been seen as
separate during the decline and initial conservation of the gray wolf
(VonHoldt et. al.).
Interbreeding has a specific impact upon conservation law efforts that
according to Robert Wayne are not able up to date enough to handle such
predicaments, the topic of species becomes too rigid, instead a proposed
fluid idea of species would take place, considering the coyote gray wolf red

Miller 4

wolf and eastern wolf species are all capable of interbreeding, and not as
deterred by geographical barriers as previously thought (Takemura A.F.).
Allowing the gray wolves to enter areas believed to be a part of the eastern
wolf and red wolf historical territories might allow for the gene flow of wolf
genes back into the two species lines, as well it should be noted that the
introduction of gray wolves has a direct limitation upon coyote populations,
which makes sense since the decline of wolf populations has been linked to
increased coyote populations (Rabon 6 VonHoldt et. al.). According to Robert
Wayne, expanding the protected territories of the gray wolf and allowing
hybridization to occur as naturally as possible might be the best route to
take, according to his work the various populations will balance out or create
a new species through the hybridization which wouldnt necessarily be a bad
thing (Takemura). Allowing hybridization to occur would give us a chance to
study evolution as it occurs rather than after the fact. Although on the other
side of things we would have to accept that the species we know might not
be what we remembered them as, allowing these species to interbreed
would also create a challenge that affects the whole ecosystem. If gray
wolves were to interbreed with smaller species would their species also be
reduced in size, and if this were to happen would they still have the ability to
hunt effectively, even though traditionally gray wolves do hunt in packs to
take down larger animals, would they still be as powerful together as they
once were? If not this could affect herding animal populations, perhaps
create an over-grazing issue and eventually lead to a whole new set of

Miller 5

environmental problems. Another important factor is environment

fragmentation, it could be that the lack of territory for the larger canines is
forcing them to breed with those who are close by, VonHoldt points out that
gray wolves require a massive habitat, whereas eastern wolves and red
wolves are capable of living in the smaller territories created by encroaching
human civilizations (VonHoldt et. al.).
The questions of hybridization bring many different arguments but it is
my opinion that hybridization should be allowed to continue, but not
unchecked. By monitoring the activities of the various species and their
interactions of the environment we could gain a better idea of what sort of
repercussions we are dealing with. It is also important that we look at what
creates a favorable environment for hybridization, such as environmental
fragmentation, climate changes, or even how our laws of conservation might
be barring the natural course of hybridization. I believe it would be simple to
test out the repercussions by closely examining a group of hybrids and
taking note of what positive and negative affects their presence might bring,
as a species we are constantly changing the environment, so it is not
surprising that the species around us might change to conform to the world
we create. By understanding hybridization we can better understand what
the future of the earths environment might be like.

Miller 6

Miller 7

Work cited

Rabon, D. R. R. Bartel. Red Wolf Adaptive Management Plan FY13-FY15. U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service. 2013. 212.https://www.fws.gov/redwolf/Images/20130211_RWAMP_20132015.pdf

Takemura, A. F. Wolf Species Are Part Coyote. 2016. online. june.

http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/46680/title/WolfSpecies-Are-Part-Coyote/

U.S. fish and wildlife service. Red Wolves and Coyotes. 2016.
https://www.fws.gov/redwolf/wolvesandcoyotes.html

VonHoldt, B. M. J. A. Cahill, Z. fan, I. Gronau, J. Robinson, J. P. Pollinger, B.

shapiro, J. Wall, R. K. Wayne. Whole-genome sequence analysis shows
that two endemic species of North American wolf are admixtures of the
coyote and gray wolf. 2016. ScienceAdvanves. 2:7, E1501714
http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/2/7/e1501714.full