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Extinct Beringian wolf morphotype found in the continental U.S. has implications for wolf migration and evolution.
Julie A Meachen1, Alexandria L Brannick2, Trent J Fry1
1Anatomy Department Des Moines University 3200 Grand Ave Des Moines Iowa 50312.
Ecology and Evolution
|June 3, 2016
Summary
Pleistocene North America had higher wolf diversity. Fossils from Natural Trap Cave reveal Beringian wolves, not gray or dire wolves, were present, indicating wider migration routes.
Area of Science:
- Paleontology
- Zoology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Pleistocene North America exhibited greater wolf diversity, with distinct morphotypes like dire, gray, and Beringian wolves, contrasting with the single gray wolf species present today.
- Previous research suggested ecological overlap but geographical separation among these wolf groups.
- The Natural Trap Cave (NTC) in Wyoming, a key Late Pleistocene fossil site, offers insights into species migration before, during, and after the last glacial maximum.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the wolf morphotype present at the Natural Trap Cave (NTC) site using morphometric analysis.
- To understand the implications of NTC wolf presence for Pleistocene wolf diversity and migration patterns in North America.
- To clarify the evolutionary history and immigration of Canis species on the continent.
Main Methods:
- Morphometric analysis of fossil wolf specimens from NTC.
- Comparison of NTC wolf morphometrics with three known wolf groups: dire wolves, extant North American gray wolves, and Alaskan Beringian wolves.
- Radiocarbon dating of NTC wolf specimens.
Main Results:
- Fossil wolves from NTC were morphologically identified as belonging to the Beringian wolf group, aligning with Alaskan Beringian wolves.
- This finding represents the first morphological evidence of Beringian wolves in mid-continental North America.
- Radiocarbon ages and NTC location suggest Beringian wolves utilized glacial meltwater channels for migration.
Conclusions:
- The presence of Beringian wolves in mid-continental North America indicates higher wolf diversity and inter-group competition during the Pleistocene than previously understood.
- These findings contribute crucial data for reconstructing the immigration and evolutionary pathways of Canis in North America.
- The study highlights the dynamic nature of species distribution and migration during glacial periods.
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