Expansion of wolves' populations in the Western Palearct and interactions with dogs.

Viktoriia Yakushevska

Bachelor's thesis

Abstract:

The grey wolf (Canis lupus) had high population numbers in Europe in history. However, between the 18th and 19th centuries its numbers began to decline greatly. In particular, there were rapid environmental changes, but also the impact of humans. Due to the fragmentation of the landscape, hunting, poaching, competition for resources, hybridization and insufficient protection, the wolves disappeared, firstly from the European islands, subsequently from Germany and Poland, then from most of the western European countries. In recent years, the grey wolf (Canis lupus) started to recover its numbers in the Western Palearctic, by immigration from eastern or southern populations. Grey wolf started to establish its populations even in countries, where it was extinct. But this recovery wasn’t without challenges, because so many factors affected this species. One of the most important factors which can impact the species, is hybridization with domestic dogs. My literature research is focused on the complex history of the grey wolf, from their extinction in many parts of the Western Palearctic, to their subsequent resurgence. Additionally, my research aims to describe hybridization with domestic dogs and the impact it has had on the genetic structure of wolf populations in certain areas. In the practical part, I had training in a molecular genetics’ laboratory, where a sample set analysis was provided to determine the potential presence of hybrids.

Keywords

Dog, Expansion, Genetics, Genome changes, Grey wolf, Hybridization, Interaction

Jazyk práce: English

Datum vytvoření / odevzdání či podání práce: 18. 4. 2023

Obhajoba závěrečné práce

• Obhajoba proběhla 25. 5. 2023
• Vedúci: Mgr. Barbora Černá Bolfíková, Ph.D.
• Oponent: Silvie Neradilová, Ing.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Bachelor programme:
Tropical Agriculture