Large variance in inbreeding within the Iberian wolf population.

Area of Science:

• Conservation genetics
• Population genomics
• Wildlife ecology

Background:

• The Iberian wolf (Canis lupus) population was historically the largest in western/central Europe.
• Following protection, the Iberian wolf population stabilized but has remained isolated for decades.
• This contrasts with other European wolf populations that benefit from gene flow.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess genomic diversity and inbreeding patterns in Iberian wolves over recent decades.
• To investigate the geographic context of these genetic changes.
• To understand the implications of isolation and fragmentation for the Iberian wolf population.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of genomic diversity and inbreeding levels in Iberian wolf populations.
• Geographic contextualization of genetic data.
• Comparison of modern and historical wolf genetic samples.

Main Results:

• Iberian wolves exhibit low genomic diversity compared to other Eurasian populations.
• High inbreeding levels were detected in some modern wolves, particularly in edge and recolonized areas.
• Genetic similarity between geographically close historical and modern samples indicates small-scale fragmentation.

Conclusions:

• Despite demographic stability, the Iberian wolf population faces challenges due to low diversity and high inbreeding.
• Small-scale fragmentation is evident, even within close geographic proximity.
• Enhancing intra-population connectivity and facilitating gene flow with other European populations is recommended to mitigate inbreeding depression.