Data from: Genetic differentiation of eastern wolves in Algonquin Park despite bridging gene flow between coyotes and grey wolves

Distinguishing genetically differentiated populations within hybrid zones
and determining the mechanisms by which introgression occurs are crucial
for setting effective conservation policy. Extensive hybridization among
grey wolves (Canis lupus), eastern wolves (C. lycaon) and coyotes (C.
latrans) in eastern North America has blurred species distinctions,
creating a Canis hybrid swarm. Using complementary genetic markers, we
tested the hypotheses that eastern wolves have acted as a conduit of
sex-biased gene flow between grey wolves and coyotes, and that eastern
wolves in Algonquin Provincial Park (APP) have differentiated following a
history of introgression. Mitochondrial, Y chromosome and autosomal
microsatellite genetic data provided genotypes for 217 canids from three
geographic regions in Ontario, Canada: northeastern Ontario, APP and
southern Ontario. Coyote mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotypes were common
across regions but coyote-specific Y chromosome haplotypes were absent;
grey wolf mtDNA was absent from southern regions, whereas grey wolf Y
chromosome haplotypes were present in all three regions. Genetic
structuring analyses revealed three distinct clusters within a genetic
cline, suggesting some gene flow among species. In APP, however, 78.4% of
all breeders and 11 of 15 known breeding pairs had assignment probability
of Qgreater than or equal to0.8 to the Algonquin cluster, and the
proportion of eastern wolf Y chromosome haplotypes in APP breeding males
was higher than expected from random mating within the park
(P<0.02). The data indicate that Algonquin wolves remain
genetically distinct despite providing a sex-biased genetic bridge between
coyotes and grey wolves. We speculate that ongoing hybridization within
the park is limited by pre-mating reproductive barriers.