Ricerc@Sapienza

Natural hybridization is being increasingly recognized as a relevant phenomenon for fundamental evolutionary processes such as the introduction of adaptive variation or the origin of new species. Differently, anthropogenic hybridization (AH), following introductions of plants and animals and/or large-scale habitat modification and fragmentation by humans, is being increasingly considered a major threat to local wild populations. Especially if introgressive, AH may lead to genetic flow across genetically distinct populations causing substantial genetic swamping if not extinction. Controversy has traditionally surrounded the definition of appropriate conservation policies to deal with AH, as management measures are complex, inherently limited by insufficient power to detect admixed individuals and, most importantly, are and socially debated. Using the wolf x dog hybridization in Italy as a study case, and based on up-to-date molecular genetic tools coupled with innovative demographic modeling approaches, we aim to assess the extent of hybridization in wild wolf populations through the formal estimation of the proportion of admixed individuals (i.e. prevalence). To this aim, we will collaborate with a network of research and management institutions, both at the national and international scale, and on-going wolf monitoring programs in the northern Apennines, to (i) collect and analyse wolf samples, (ii) assign each sampled individual to the wolf parental population or to the admixed category, (iii) estimate prevalence of admixture within local wolf populations, and (iv) inform management based on our findings. In doing so, we will develop and disseminate robust sampling and estimation procedures that can be used with other taxa also affected by AH. As interventions to control the negative effects of AH can be controversial, we will also run a survey within the scientific community to assess commonalities and divergence regarding management options.