A restricted hybrid zone between native and introduced red fox (Vulpes vulpes) populations suggests reproductive barriers and competitive exclusion

Introduced species can threaten native taxa in multiple ways, including competition and hybridization, which can reduce fitness, alter ecological niches or swamp native genomes. Encroachment and hybridization by introduced species also provide opportunities to study the dynamics of invasiveness and hybridization during early stages following contact. We used 33 microsatellites, 51 single nucleotide polymorphisms and a mtDNA marker to characterize the extent and spatial pattern of encroachment and hybridization between a native, endemic subspecies of red fox (Vulpes vulpes patwin) and an introduced red fox population composed of highly admixed, phylogenetically divergent stock, resulting from a century of domestication. Both nuclear and mtDNA markers indicated that hybridization was primarily restricted to a narrow zone where the two populations came into contact. Although a few introgressed genotypes were detected in the interior of the native range, we found no immigrant foxes or F(1) or F(2) hybrids there, suggesting native foxes excluded introduced individuals. We speculate that the observed interbreeding at the periphery was facilitated by low densities. In total, 98% of mtDNA haplotypes in the native range were native and 96% of the nuclear ancestry was estimated to be native. Although the introduced range had expanded fivefold over the past four decades, native and non-native haplotypes from museum samples collected in and near the native range three decades earlier showed a similar geographic distribution as today, suggesting that the native range and hybrid zone were relatively stable. We hypothesize that the monogamous mating system of red foxes and other wild canids may enhance their resistance to hybridization because of greater fitness consequences associated with mate discrimination.     

三种犬科动物春季洞穴特征

2004年4月-2005年6月在内蒙古达赉湖国家级自然保护区对20个狼穴、27个赤狐洞穴、33个沙狐洞穴进行测量调查,结果如下：3种犬科动物洞穴的洞口朝向无显著差异,赤狐和沙狐洞穴在洞口倾角、洞口直径、第一洞道长度3个特征上无显著差异,洞口直径可作为判别狼穴与其它两者洞穴的依据。影响狼春季洞穴选择的前3位主要因子是隐蔽、人为干扰和水源。影响赤狐春季洞穴选择的前3位主要因子是地形、水源、和人为干扰。影响沙狐春季洞穴选择的前3位主要因子是微气候、人为干扰和食物。通过对3种犬科动物春季洞穴生境选择的比较发现：3种动物洞穴都有远离人为干扰,提高隐蔽性的趋势;不同的是赤狐和狼的洞址都靠近水源,沙狐洞址则远离水源;3种动物在地形及坡位选择上也存在差异,赤狐和狼的洞穴多位于平地。而沙狐洞穴多位于坡地的坡顶,且洞穴周围啮齿类数量显著大于赤狐洞穴和狼穴。柳灌丛、干旱苇塘、高草坡地分别是赤狐、狼、沙狐偏爱的生境类型。3种犬科动物中洞穴生态位宽度最大的是狼（0．5051）,其次为赤狐（0．4292）,最小为沙狐（0．2591）。其中狼与赤狐洞穴空间生态位重叠指数较高,达到了0．4692,沙狐与赤狐洞穴空间生态位重叠指数最低,只有0．2356。     

The development of Taenia pisiformis in various definitive host species

In pups experimentally infected with T. pisiformis evagination and attachment of cysticerci occurred in the small intestine, proglottization was initiated 3–5 DAI and gravid cestodes were recovered on and after 35 DAI. Establishment in fox cubs (Vulpes vulpes) was similar but only a few worms had become gravid by 70 DAI. T. pisiformis developed slowly in kittens and although reaching sexual maturity 21 DAI, infections were lost before worms became gravid. Cysticerci fed to ferrets (Mustela putorius) evaginated in the small intestine but failed to attach and passed rapidly into the colon. No significant host-induced effects on morphological features of the parasites, apart from their sizes and rates of development, were detected.     

Phylogeography of the North American red fox: vicariance in Pleistocene forest refugia

Fossil, archaeological, and morphometric data suggest that indigenous red foxes in North America were derived from vicariance in two disjunct refugia during the last glaciation: one in Beringia and one in the contiguous USA. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a phylogeographical analysis of the North American red fox within its presettlement range. We sequenced portions of the mitochondrial cytochrome b (354 bp) gene and D-loop (342 bp) from 220 historical red fox specimens. Phylogenetic analysis of the cytochrome b gene produced two clades that diverged c . 400 000 years before present ( bp ): a Holarctic and a Nearctic clade. D-loop analyses of the Nearctic clade indicated three distinct subclades (≥ 99% Bayesian posterior probability); two that were more recently derived (rho estimate c . 20 000 bp ) and were restricted to the southwestern mountains and the eastern portion of North America, and one that was older (rho estimate c . 45 000 bp ) and more widespread in North America. Populations that migrated north from the southern refugium following deglaciation were derived from the colonization of North America during or prior to the Illinoian glaciation (300 000–130 000 bp ), whereas populations that migrated south from the northern refugium represent a more recent colonization event during the Wisconsin glaciation (100 000–10 000 bp ). Our findings indicate that Nearctic clade red foxes are phylogenetically distinct from their Holarctic counterparts, and reflect long-term isolation in two disjunct forest refugia during the Pleistocene. The montane lineage, which includes endangered populations, may be ecologically and evolutionarily distinct.     

内蒙古东部草原地区赤狐繁殖期对洞穴的选择

通过对内蒙古东部草原地区赤狐的２５个洞穴观测,运用系统聚类分析的方法,研究了赤狐繁殖期的洞穴选择。结果表明,影响赤狐繁殖期洞穴选择的主要因子是水源,其次是坡向、坡位和坡度,人为干扰、隐蔽程度及洞口朝向等因子对其影响作用不明显。繁殖期赤狐的最适洞穴选择为：阳坡或半阴半阳坡、下坡位、坡度５°～２５°、距水源５００～１０００ｍ。     

Using the dog genome to find single nucleotide polymorphisms in red foxes and other distantly related members of the Canidae

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) are the ideal marker for characterizing genomic variation but can be difficult to find in nonmodel species. We explored the usefulness of the dog genome for finding SNPs in distantly related nonmodel canids and evaluated so-ascertained SNPs. Using 40 primer pairs designed from randomly selected bacterial artificial chromosome clones from the dog genome, we successfully sequenced 80-88% of loci in a coyote (Canis latrans), grey fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), and red fox (Vulpes vulpes), which compared favourably to a 60% success rate for each species using 10 primer pairs conserved across mammals. Loci were minimally heterogeneous with respect to SNP density, which was similar, overall, in a discovery panel of nine red foxes to that previously reported for a panel of eight wolves (Canis lupus). Additionally, individual heterozygosity was similar across the three canids in this study. However, the proportion of SNP sites shared with the dog decreased with phylogenetic divergence, with no SNPs shared between red foxes and dogs. Density of interspecific SNPs increased approximately linearly with divergence time between species. Using red foxes from three populations, we estimated F(ST) based on each of 42 SNPs and 14 microsatellites and simulated null distributions conditioned on each marker type. Relative to SNPs, microsatellites systematically underestimated F(ST) and produced biased null distributions, indicating that SNPs are superior markers for these functions. By reconstituting the frequency spectrum of SNPs discovered in nine red foxes, we discovered an estimated 77-89% of all SNPs (within the region screened) present in North American red foxes. In sum, these findings indicate that information from the dog genome enables easy ascertainment of random and gene-linked SNPs throughout the Canidae and illustrate the value of SNPs in ecological and evolutionary genetics.