Unregulated hunting and genetic recovery from a severe population decline: the cautionary case of Bulgarian wolves

• DOI: 10.1007/s10592-013-0547-y
• Publication Date: 2013-10-31T07:17:23Z
• Authors: Andre E. Moura; Elena Tsingarska; Michał J. Dąbrowski; Sylwia D. Czarnomska; Bogumiła Jędrzeje...; Małgorzata Pilot
• Keywords: Population decline; Effective population size; Population bottleneck; Population fragmentation; Culling

European wolf (Canis lupus) populations have suffered extensive decline and range contraction due to anthropogenic culling. In Bulgaria, although wolves are still recovering from a severe demographic bottleneck in the 1970s, hunting is allowed with few constraints. A recent increase pressure has raised concerns regarding long-term viability. We thus carried out comprehensive conservation genetic analysis using microsatellite mtDNA markers. Our results showed high heterozygosity levels (0.654, SE 0.031) weak signals, suggesting good recovery since 1970s decline. However, we found of inbreeding (F IS = 0.113, 0.019) N e/N ratio lower than expected for an undisturbed population (0.11, 95 % CI 0.08–0.29). also evidence hybridisation introgression feral dogs (C. familiaris) 10 92 (9.8 %). suggest admixture between local golden jackals aureus), but less as compared dogs. detected structure that may be explained by fragmentation patterns during differences ecological characteristics, more sampling needed assess further substructure. conclude other canid species, which likely result unregulated hunting, compromise viability this despite its current diversity. The existence subdivision warrants assessment whether separate management units different subpopulations. study highlights threats growing numbers subject hunting.