Size-assortative choice and mate availability influences hybridization between red wolves (Canis rufus) and coyotes (Canis latrans)

Anthropogenic hybridization of historically isolated taxa has become a primary conservation challenge for many imperiled species. Indeed, hybridization between red wolves (Canis rufus) and coyotes (Canis latrans) poses a significant challenge to red wolf recovery. We considered 7 hypotheses to assess factors influencing hybridization between red wolves and coyotes via pair-bonding between the two species. Because long-term monogamy and defense of all-purpose territories are core characteristics of both species, mate choice has long-term consequences. Therefore, red wolves may choose similar-sized mates to acquire partners that behave similarly to themselves in use of space and diet. We observed multiple factors influencing breeding pair formation by red wolves and found that most wolves paired with similar-sized conspecifics and wolves that formed congeneric pairs with non-wolves (coyotes and hybrids) were mostly female wolves, the smaller of the two sexes. Additionally, we observed tha...人为活动导致的历史生殖隔离类群间杂交，已成为众多濒危物种保护面临的首要挑战。事实上，红狼（Canis rufus）与郊狼（Canis latrans）之间的杂交，正对红狼的种群恢复构成显著挑战。本研究共提出7项假说，旨在通过两种物种间的配对结合行为，评估影响红狼与郊狼杂交的各类因素。由于长期单配制与多功能领地防御是两个物种的核心生物学特征，配偶选择会产生长期的演化后果。据此，红狼倾向于选择体型相近的配偶，以获得在空间利用与饮食习性上与自身行为模式相似的交配伙伴。本研究观测到多种影响红狼繁殖配对形成的因素，结果显示：多数红狼会选择体型相近的同种个体作为配偶；而与非狼类群（郊狼及杂交后代）形成同属配对的个体，多为两个性别中体型更小的雌性红狼。此外，本研究还观测到