Revived From the Dead: Exploring Evolutionary Processes Defining Canis Rufus Conservation

Abstract

Often seen as a detriment to conservation efforts, the advent of modern genomic analyses has shed a new light on the potential utility hybridization and introgres- sion may serve in preserving rare species. Under ideal ecological situations, hybrids and introgressed individuals may serve as repositories of genomic information for rare species. An ongoing case study of this concept has been revealed in the sequencing analyses of the critically endangered Canis rufus (Red Wolf) and abundant Canis latrans (coyote). Recent findings of high proportions of stored Red Wolf DNA within coyotes inhabiting the American Gulf Coast has questioned the stigma held on these evolutionary processes. Simulation models developed in this thesis reveal statisti- cally that coyotes are systematically biasing mate selection for conspecifics with high densities of Red Wolf ancestry, resulting in genotyped individuals nearing governmen- tal thresholds for Red Wolf taxa declaration. Additionally, newly sequenced coyote genomes serve as an expansion of Ancestry Informative Markers for new captive breed- ing efforts proposed between computationally optimized canid cohorts. Results from simulation models and prospects held from proposed breeding strategies informed by analysis of new genome sequencing data offer a key insight into how these once- avoided phenomena may serve conservation goals both through natural processes and through human intervention to spark hope for not only the Red Wolf, but for many endangered species in similar ecological situations.