Data from: Reliable wolf-dog hybrid detection in Europe using a reduced SNP panel developed for non-invasively collected samples

Background: Understanding the processes that lead to hybridization of
wolves and dogs is of scientific and management importance, particularly
over large geographical scales, as wolves can disperse great distances.
However, a method to efficiently detect hybrids in routine wolf monitoring
is lacking. Microsatellites offer only limited resolution due to the low
number of markers showing distinctive allele frequencies between wolves
and dogs. Moreover, calibration across laboratories is time-consuming and
costly. In this study, we selected a panel of 96 ancestry informative
markers for wolves and dogs, derived from the Illumina CanineHD
Whole-Genome BeadChip (174K). We designed very short amplicons for
genotyping on a microfluidic array, thus making the method suitable also
for non-invasively collected samples. Results: Genotypes based on 93 SNPs
from wolves sampled throughout Europe, purebred and non-pedigree dogs, and
suspected hybrids showed that the new panel accurately identifies parental
individuals, first-generation hybrids and first-generation backcrosses to
wolves, while second- and third-generation backcrosses to wolves were
identified as advanced hybrids in almost all cases. Our results support
the hybrid identity of suspect individuals and the non-hybrid status of
individuals regarded as wolves. We also show the adequacy of these markers
to assess hybridization at a European-wide scale and the importance of
including samples from reference populations. Conclusions: We showed that
the proposed SNP panel is an efficient tool for detecting hybrids up to
the third-generation backcrosses to wolves across Europe. Notably, the
proposed genotyping method is suitable for a variety of samples, including
non-invasive and museum samples, making this panel useful for wolf-dog
hybrid assessments and wolf monitoring at both continental and different
temporal scales.