Disease outbreaks select for mate choice and coat color in wolves

Sarah Cubaynes, Ellen E. Brandell, Daniel R. Stahler, Douglas W. Smith, Emily S. Almberg, Susanne Schindler, Robert K. Wayne, Andrew P. Dobson, Bridgett M. vonHoldt, Daniel R. MacNulty, Paul C. Cross, Peter J. Hudson, Tim Coulson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

We know much about pathogen evolution and the emergence of new disease strains, but less about host resistance and how it is signaled to other individuals and subsequently maintained. The cline in frequency of black-coated wolves (Canis lupus) across North America is hypothesized to result from a relationship with canine distemper virus (CDV) outbreaks. We tested this hypothesis using cross-sectional data from wolf populations across North America that vary in the prevalence of CDV and the allele that makes coats black, longitudinal data from Yellowstone National Park, and modeling. We found that the frequency of CDV outbreaks generates fluctuating selection that results in heterozygote advantage that in turn affects the frequency of the black allele, optimal mating behavior, and black wolf cline across the continent.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number378
JournalScience
Volume378
Issue number6617
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 21 2022

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General

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