DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Understanding mate choice and hybridization of the endangered red wolf

小种群面临着与近亲繁殖和遗传变异减少有关的独特风险，这可能会影响杂交和/或疾病易感性，降低生存能力和生存可能性。对于濒临灭绝的种群来说尤其如此，它们很容易受到近亲交配和变异的丧失，因为它们的定义很小，而且往往由相关的个体组成。这项研究将检查近亲繁殖和对抗病重要的基因的低变异是否：(1)影响濒危红狼的繁殖成功和生存(适合度)；(2)导致红狼寻找无关或遗传上不相似的配偶，包括来自近亲物种的配偶；以及(3)影响红狼疾病的易感性，通过寄生虫载量和免疫测试来测试血液对抗病原体的能力。初步结果显示，红狼是高度近亲繁殖的，在重要的抗病基因上几乎没有变异，这可能会导致它们的适合度降低，与郊狼杂交以避免与近亲交配，并增加它们对病原体的敏感性。研究结果将有助于野生红狼的恢复，告知管理者提高繁殖成功和存活率所需的行动，例如通过引入圈养红狼来增加遗传变异性，筛选潜在的红狼配偶的遗传兼容性，以及增加疫苗接种制度以减少病原体感染。更广泛地说，这项研究可能会强调维持具有高水平遗传变异的大型自然种群的重要性，并增加对导致濒危物种杂交和疾病的因素的理解。最后，这项研究将利用路易斯安那州立大学广泛的高中和本科生外展计划，将研究和教育结合起来。

Small populations face unique risks associated with inbreeding and reduced genetic variation which can influence hybridization and/or disease susceptibility reducing viability and likelihood of survival. This is especially true for endangered populations, which are vulnerable to inbreeding and loss of variation because they are small by definition and frequently consist of related individuals. This study will examine whether inbreeding and low variation at genes important for disease resistance: (1) affect reproductive success and survivorship (fitness) in endangered red wolves; (2) cause red wolves to seek unrelated or genetically dissimilar mates including mates from closely related species, and; (3) affect red wolf disease susceptibility as measured by parasite load and immune assays that test the ability of blood to fight pathogens. Preliminary results reveal that red wolves are highly inbred and have little variation at genes important for disease resistance which may cause them to experience reduced fitness, hybridize with coyotes to avoid mating with kin, and increase their susceptibility to pathogens. Results will help wild red wolf recovery by informing managers about actions needed to increase reproductive success and survival, such as increasing genetic variability through the introduction of captive red wolves, screening potential red wolf mates for genetic compatibility, and increasing vaccination regimes to reduce pathogen infections. More broadly, this study may highlight the importance of maintaining large natural populations with high levels of genetic variation and increase understanding of the factors leading to hybridization and disease in endangered species. Finally, this study will integrate research and education by taking advantage of Louisiana State University's extensive high school and undergraduate student outreach programs.