First evidence of hybridization between golden jackal (Canis aureus) and domestic dog (Canis familiaris) as revealed by genetic markers.

Ana Galov,Marco Galaverni,Ettore Randi,Ivica Bošković,Romolo Caniglia,Haidi Arbanasić,Silvana Lapalombella,Tihomir Florijančić,Elena Fabbri

doi:10.1098/rsos.150450

Abstract

Interspecific hybridization is relatively frequent in nature and numerous cases of hybridization between wild canids and domestic dogs have been recorded. However, hybrids between golden jackals (Canis aureus) and other canids have not been described before. In this study, we combined the use of biparental (15 autosomal microsatellites and three major histocompatibility complex (MHC) loci) and uniparental (mtDNA control region and a Y-linked Zfy intron) genetic markers to assess the admixed origin of three wild-living canids showing anomalous phenotypic traits. Results indicated that these canids were hybrids between golden jackals and domestic dogs. One of them was a backcross to jackal and another one was a backcross to dog, confirming that golden jackal–domestic dog hybrids are fertile. The uniparental markers showed that the direction of hybridization, namely females of the wild species hybridizing with male domestic dogs, was common to most cases of canid hybridization. A melanistic 3bp-deletion at the K locus (β-defensin CDB103 gene), that was absent in reference golden jackal samples, but was found in a backcross to jackal with anomalous black coat, suggested its introgression from dogs via hybridization. Moreover, we demonstrated that MHC sequences, although rarely used as markers of hybridization, can be also suitable for the identification of hybrids, as long as haplotypes are exclusive for the parental species.

Highlights

Interspecific hybridization in Canis has been described in a number of studies in North America
Cases of anthropogenic hybridization between wild canids and widespread free-ranging domestic dogs are alarming, because they may threaten the survival of endangered species, or may deeply change the genetic make-up of wild populations in human-dominated landscapes
Using genetic markers we confirmed that the three individuals with anomalous phenotypic characters were interspecific hybrids, namely a first generation hybrid between golden jackal and domestic golden jackal haplotypes identified in 50 golden jackal individuals haplotype frequency (%)

Summary

Introduction

Interspecific hybridization is relatively frequent in nature, occurring in plants and in animals, where at least 10% of species are involved in admixture and potential introgression [1]. Interspecific hybridization in Canis has been described in a number of studies in North America (e.g. coyote–grey wolf [2]). The golden jackal (Canis aureus) is a medium-sized species, currently distributed in northern and northeastern Africa, southeastern Europe and large parts of southern Asia [7]. European golden jackals were first reported in 1491 in the coastal region of southern Dalmatia, where they still occur. After suffering a severe decline in the first half of the twentieth century, the European population has recovered and has been expanding since the early 1980s, especially in the Balkan regions [8]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion