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.喀尔巴阡山脉（Carpathian Mountains）历来为灰狼的栖息之地，是欧洲灰狼分布面积最大的区域之一，其中罗马尼亚境内的灰狼种群数量约为2300至2700只。但迄今为止，学界对罗马尼亚灰狼种群的认知仍较为有限。本研究以罗马尼亚东部喀尔巴阡山区的444份样本（多数为非侵入式采集所得）为基础，首次对该区域灰狼的遗传多样性、种群结构以及狼-犬杂交情况展开评估。研究通过线粒体DNA控制区测序与微卫星基因分型技术，完成了狼群集群重建及种群遗传参数分析。结果表明，该区域灰狼的遗传多样性水平较高，与此前针对波兰、斯洛伐克喀尔巴阡灰狼种群的研究结果，以及长期存续的狄那里克-巴尔干灰狼种群的相关数值相近。本研究区域未检测到显著的种群结构，提示灰狼具备高效的扩散能力与遗传混合现象。使用针对杂交检测优化的单核苷酸多态性（Single Nucleotide Polymorphism，SNP）基因分型面板开展的狼-犬杂交分析显示，灰狼与家犬之间的基因渗入率较低。本研究结果证实，罗马尼亚喀尔巴阡山区存在遗传上可行的灰狼种群。本研究获取的遗传数据可作为制定罗马尼亚灰狼监测标准与管理计划的宝贵基线信息。