Studies of hybrids in plants have proven to consistently increase the quality of crops but similar studies of animal hybrids never seemed to benefit as well. A recent study done by wildlife biologist Roland Kays traced the northern and southern migration routes of coyotes from the Great Plains. After extensive research over nine years in the field collecting and analyzing samples and footage, Kays was able to draw various conclusions to his research. He found that coyotes which migrated from the southern route had DNA that was very similar to their original Western ancestors, while the northern coyote's offspring had DNA that was much less diverse and included DNA of canadian wolves. The Northeastern coyotes also portrayed many physical similarities to the Great Lakes wolves such as wider mouths which help them to kill larger prey. The attributes that the Northeastern coyotes attained from interbreeding with wolves and creating hybrid offspring appears to have increased their fitness and survival rates. This study opens the doors to the possibility that hybrid vigor can benefit a species of animals much like it does in plants, but in cases where it has not been successful in the past (such as the Liger and Tigon hybrids) one might conclude that the circumstances were not natural or beneficial to either species which therefore resulted in less fit individuals.
Kathleen Goller
I thought this was very interesting. I would never think to look at genetics as playing a role in migration routes.
ReplyDeleteI also am very interested in animal behavior as well as genetics it's really neat to see how behavior really engulfs so many aspects of science, biology, and psychology as well as many other fields. I think this article really shows that.
-gina fortunato
I found this article really interesting. Its already known that genetic diversity benefits a population because it allows more opportunities for the population to overcome new diseases, predators, climate changes, etc., but the hybrid Northeastern coyotes were not as diverse as the coyotes from the West or South. Does their hybrid vigor make up for their lack of genetic diversity to help the population survive?
ReplyDeletePosted by Sarah Benjamin
This is an interesting article. I read that because of the large decrease in wolves population in the U.S. coyotes are slowly taking over the role of wolves. I would of never know the two species could interbreed and share the same DNA. I would like to know more about how the hybrids fitness is decreased by the DNA from the wolves. What makes them less fit?
ReplyDelete-Carlos
Wolves are coyotes are definitely some of my favorite critters. It is not that surprising that two species so closely related are able to successfully interbreed. It is interesting how some aspects of conservation encourage interbreeding in order to strengthen a species, while hybridization for other species can be detrimental. For example, preference for male Mallards by female Eastern Black Ducks has created serious issues in conservation for that species. Check out the campus pond sometime and you will notice black duck every now and then paired with a colorful male Mallard.
ReplyDeletePosted by Deysha Rivera
Great post!
ReplyDeleteI know that you mentioned that coyotes who are "attained from interbreeding with wolves and creating hybrid offspring appears to have increased their fitness and survival rates", I was just wondering in what ways, since both of these animals are closely related and live in the same environment? I believe that if coyotes are becoming like wolves, this may cause coyotes to become extinct in the future.
Posted by Vanessa Raphaël
This is a pretty interesting post. I am not surprised such similar species would interbreed but still find it strange from a behavioral standpoint. I don’t know very much about pack behavior in these animals but I would think that social order is well determined, so I would think that breeding between these species would cause some hierarchical problems. Also, are these hybrid animals socially undeveloped in comparison to the coyotes in the south? In addition, is the behavioral communication that may have been passed on from past ancestors still intact? Does the article mention any other wolf behaviors being exhibited in these hybrid animals?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great post! Can't wait to hear more about this topic.
Posted by Jackie Connolly