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相关的独特风险，这可能影响杂交和/或疾病易感性，降低生存能力和生存可能性。对于濒危种群来说尤其如此，它们很容易受到近亲繁殖和变异丧失的影响，因为它们的定义很小，而且经常由相关的个体组成。这项研究将检查近亲繁殖和抗病基因的低变异是否：（1）影响濒危红狼的繁殖成功和生存（适应性）;（2）导致红狼寻找不相关或遗传上不同的配偶，包括近缘物种的配偶;（3）影响红狼病的易感性，如通过寄生虫负荷和测试血液对抗病原体的能力的免疫测定所测量的。初步结果显示，红狼是高度近亲繁殖的，在抗病基因上几乎没有变化，这可能导致它们的适应性降低，与土狼杂交以避免与近亲交配，并增加它们对病原体的易感性。研究结果将有助于野生红狼的恢复，方法是向管理人员通报提高繁殖成功率和生存率所需的行动，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相容性，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保持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，本研究将整合研究和教育，利用路易斯安那州州立大学的广泛的高中和本科生外展计划。

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.