Genetics of canine behavior: A review

The past decade has seen rapid progress in the field of canid behavioral genetics. The recent advances are summarized in this review. The identification of the genes responsible for tameness in silver foxes is the culmination of a half century of behavioral testing and,more recently, genomic investigation. There is agreement that domestic dogs evolved from wolves, but when and from which population remains controversial.The genetic differences between wolves and dogs identified include those for neurotransmitters and digestion.Breed differences in behavior are well known, but only recently have the genetics underlying these differences been investigated. The genes responsible for flank sucking in Doberman Pinschers and for several other obsessive compulsive problems in other breeds have been identified. Aggression is the least desirable canine trait, and several laboratories have detected differences in neurotransmitters and their receptors between aggressive and non-aggressive dogs. In English Cocker Spaniels, the genes linked to aggressive behavior code for dopamine, serotonin, and glutamate receptors. A dopamine transporter gene has been associated with impulsive behavior in Malinois.

Managing hybridization of a recovering endangered species： The red wolf Canis rufus as a case study

Hybridization presents a unique challenge for conservation biologists and managers. While hybridization is an important evolutionary process, hybridization is also a threat formany native species. The endangered species recovery effort for the red wolf Canis rufus is a classic system for understanding and addressing the challenges of hybridization. From 1987-1993, 63 red wolves were released from captivity in eastern North Carolina, USA, to establish a free-ranging, non-essential experimental population. By 1999, managers recognized hybridization with invasive coyotes Canis latrans was the single greatest threat to successful recovery, and an adaptive management plan was adopted with innovative approaches for managing the threat of hybri- dization. Here we review the application and results of the adaptive management efforts from 1993 to 2013 by comparing： （1） the numbers of wolves, coyotes, and hybrids captured, （2） the numbers of territorial social groups with presumed breeding capabili- ties, （3） the number of red wolf and hybrid litters documented each year and （4） the degree of coyote introgression into the wild red wolf gene pool. We documented substantial increases in the number of known red wolves and red wolf social groups from 1987-2004 followed by a plateau and slight decline by 2013.The number of red wolf litters exceeded hybrid litters each year and the proportion of hybrid litters per year averaged 21%. The genetic composition of the wild red wolf population is estimated to include 〈 4% coyote ancestry from recent introgression since reintroduction. We conclude that the adaptive management plan was effective at reducing the introgression of coyote genes into the red wolf population, but population recovery of red wolves will require continuation of the current management plan, or alternative approaches, for the foreseeable future. More broadly, we discuss the lessons learned from red wolf adaptive management that could assist other endangered species recovery efforts facing the challenge of minimizing hybridization [Current Zoology 61 （1）： 191-205, 2015 ].

Do females use their sexual status to gain resource access？ Investigating food-for-sex in wolves and dogs

While food sharing among related individuals can be explained by kin selection, food sharing be- tween unrelated individuals has been more of an evolutionary puzzle. The food-for-sex hypothesis provides an explanation for the occurrence of food sharing among nonkin. However, little is known about the socio-ecological factors that can promote such a commodity exchange. A species mating system is a factor potentially influencing food-for-sex patterns of behavior. Here, we compared wolves, which form pair-bonds, with dogs, which are typically promiscuous in freeranging contexts, to investigate the effect of reproductive stages on the behavior around a food source in 2 different contexts. Furthermore, we considered the roles of both the males and the fe- males in the potential food-for-sex exchange. Results indicate that in both species and for both sexes the breeding period promotes decreased aggression. Additionally, females were more per- sistent in their attempts to access the food and were able to monopolize the resource more when in heat as compared to outside the breeding period. Finally, in dogs, but not wolves, females spent more time in proximity to the male＇s bone and had a shorter latency to start eating it when in heat. Overall, this study demonstrates that the food-for-sex hypothesis plays a part in intersexual food sharing in canids, and highlights the role of females in the interaction. These effects were especially the case in dogs, suggesting a potential effect of mating system on food-for-sex responses

Understanding stakeholder preferences for managing red foxes in different situations

Background:Red foxes(Vulpes vulpes)have historically been interacting with human societies,thus being an important component of socio-ecological systems.In Greece,farmers and hunters have been increasingly complaining about predation of red foxes on livestock and game,and the recurrence of rabies incidents has raised concerns about human and animal health.Understanding public preferences about management is necessary for successful wildlife management.This study aimed at investigating the preferences of north Greece residents for managing the negative impacts of red foxes and also at understanding variation between stakeholder groups:farmers,hunters,farmers-hunters,and the general public.Data were collected from on-site face-to-face surveys(n=746),between March and May 2017.Respondents were asked to rate their acceptability of management strategies under three impact scenarios:red foxes attack livestock,reduce game,and carry rabies.Results:Stakeholders preferred nonlethal management strategies,with generally high consensus,both between and within groups.Fencing and compensation were the most acceptable strategies for protecting livestock and vaccination and the removal of sick animals for eliminating rabies.Acceptability and consensus for lethal strategies were lower,with hunting being the most acceptable lethal strategy for hunters,especially when foxes threatened game or carried rabies.Doing nothing was becoming more unacceptable and lethal control more acceptable with increasing severity of the impacts,i.e.,livestock and game predation versus rabies transmission.Conclusions:Variation in the acceptability of and consensus for management strategies was considerable among scenarios,and both between and within stakeholder groups.Research implications could be used as a guide for reaching consensus for proper management strategies during the conservation conflict management process in the study area.As similar studies are scarce,findings might also prove useful elsewhere,especially in the northern hemisphere where native populations do occur.Findings about managing rabid red foxes would be particularly useful for countries where rabies has not been eliminated,particularly for neighboring Balkan and Asia Minor countries.Findings about managing red fox impacts on livestock and game would be most useful for European countries and especially Mediterranean countries with social and ecological conditions similar to Greece.