Ricerc@Sapienza

Representing a form of anthropogenic hybridization, wolf–dog interbreeding may potentially compromise the ecological and evolutionary traits of local wolf populations and corrode social tolerance towards wolves. However, estimates of the extent of wolf–dog hybridization in wolf populations are scarce, especially at a multi-pack scale and in human-dominated landscapes.

Hybridization, the interbreeding of individuals from genetically distinct populations, has been
considered until recently a relatively rare event across animal species. However, it is with the
development of molecular techniques that hybrids have been increasingly detected, suggesting
hybridization may be a more widespread phenomenon than originally thought. Hybrids are not
necessarily less fit and, under given circumstances, they may also bear more successful adaptive traits

Anthropogenic hybridization is recognized as a major and increasing threat to biodiversity. The estimation of prevalence of hybrids (proportion of hybrids in the total population) is of paramount importance to understand the extent of the phenomenon and consequently inform appropriate management policies.