Data from: Y-chromosome evidence supports asymmetric dog introgression into eastern coyotes

Hybridization has played an important role in the evolutionary history of
Canis species in eastern North America. Genetic evidence of coyote–dog
hybridization based on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is lacking compared to
that based on autosomal markers. This discordance suggests dog
introgression into coyotes has potentially been male biased, but this
hypothesis has not been formally tested. Therefore, we investigated
biparentally, maternally, and paternally inherited genetic markers in a
sample of coyotes and dogs from southeastern Ontario to assess potential
asymmetric dog introgression into coyotes. Analysis of autosomal
microsatellite genotypes revealed minimal historical and contemporary
admixture between coyotes and dogs. We observed only mutually exclusive
mtDNA haplotypes in coyotes and dogs, but we observed Y-chromosome
haplotypes (Y-haplotypes) in both historical and contemporary coyotes that
were also common in dogs. Species-specific Zfy intron sequences of
Y-haplotypes shared between coyotes and dogs confirmed their homology and
indicated a putative origin from dogs. We compared Y-haplotypes observed
in coyotes, wolves, and dogs profiled in multiple studies, and observed
that the Y-haplotypes shared between coyotes and dogs were either absent
or rare in North American wolves, present in eastern coyotes, but absent
in western coyotes. We suggest the eastern coyote has experienced
asymmetric genetic introgression from dogs, resulting from predominantly
historical hybridization with male dogs and subsequent backcrossing of
hybrid offspring with coyotes. We discuss the temporal and spatial
dynamics of coyote–dog hybridization and the conditions that may have
facilitated the introgression of dog Y-chromosomes into coyotes. Our
findings clarify the evolutionary history of the eastern coyote.