Assessment of genetic diversity, population structure and wolf-dog hybridisation in the Eastern Romanian Carpathian wolf population

The Carpathian Mountains were always inhabited by grey wolves and present
one of the largest distribution areas in Europe, comprising between 2,300
to 2,700 individuals in Romania. To date, however, relatively little is
known about the Romanian wolf population. We aimed to provide a first
assessment of genetic diversity, population structure and wolf-dog
hybridisation based on 444 mostly non-invasively collected samples in the
Eastern Romanian Carpathians. Pack reconstruction and analysis of
population genetic parameters were performed with mitochondrial DNA
control-region sequencing and microsatellite genotyping. We found
relatively high levels of genetic diversity, which is similar to values
found in previous studies on Carpathian wolves from Poland and Slovakia,
as well as to the long-lasting Dinaric-Balkan wolf population. We found no
significant population structure in our study region, suggesting effective
dispersal and admixture. Analysis of wolf-dog hybridisation using a Single
Nucleotide Polymorphism panel optimised for hybrid detection revealed low
rates of admixture between wolves and domestic dogs. Our results provide
evidence for the existence of a genetically viable wolf population in the
Romanian Carpathians. The genetic data obtained in this study may serve as
valuable baseline information for the elaboration of monitoring standards
and management plans for wolves in Romania.