Is the Red Wolf Is the Red Wolf Real? Real? Canis rufusCanis rufus

OverviewOverview

The red wolf is under petition to be delisted The red wolf is under petition to be delisted from the Endangered Species Act because it from the Endangered Species Act because it is thought to be a hybrid between the gray is thought to be a hybrid between the gray wolf (wolf (Canis lupus) Canis lupus) and the coyote (and the coyote (C. C. latrans).latrans).

Geneticists have examined both mtDNA Geneticists have examined both mtDNA and nuclear DNA of all three species and and nuclear DNA of all three species and some have proposed that the red wolf is not some have proposed that the red wolf is not genetically distinct from either speciesgenetically distinct from either species . .

Biological Species Biological Species ConceptConcept

Defines a species as population or Defines a species as population or group of individuals with the group of individuals with the potential to interbreed.potential to interbreed.

Reproductive isolation has been a Reproductive isolation has been a major criterion used to define major criterion used to define species.species.

Red Wolf Pedigree Red Wolf Pedigree

Red wolf thought to be a hybrid Red wolf thought to be a hybrid between gray wolf and coyotebetween gray wolf and coyote

The red wolf can hybridize with both The red wolf can hybridize with both the coyote (the coyote (Canis latrans) Canis latrans) and gray and gray wolf wolf (Canis lupus)(Canis lupus)

Analysis of red wolf mtDNA shows no Analysis of red wolf mtDNA shows no distinct “red wolf” sequencesdistinct “red wolf” sequences

Analysis of red wolf nuclear DNA Analysis of red wolf nuclear DNA shows no distinct “red wolf” sequencesshows no distinct “red wolf” sequences

Coyote (Coyote (Canis latransCanis latrans))

Gray Wolf (Gray Wolf (Canis lupusCanis lupus))

Red Wolf (Red Wolf (Canis rufusCanis rufus))

Procedure: Preliminary Procedure: Preliminary DiscussionDiscussion

Discuss species concept and Discuss species concept and definition of hybridsdefinition of hybrids

Discuss using DNA sequence Discuss using DNA sequence information to distinguish speciesinformation to distinguish species

Discuss the Endangered Species Act Discuss the Endangered Species Act Describe the goals and objectives of Describe the goals and objectives of

the activitythe activity

Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

Exposing students to bioinformatics tools.Exposing students to bioinformatics tools. Exploring the definition of “species”, Exploring the definition of “species”,

including the morphological species including the morphological species concept vs. the biological species concept vs. the biological species concept.concept.

Understand the Endangered Species Act Understand the Endangered Species Act and implications of molecular genetics in and implications of molecular genetics in the decision-making processes associated the decision-making processes associated with listing and/or delisting species.with listing and/or delisting species.

ProcedureProcedure Use “Workbench” to locate comparable nucleic Use “Workbench” to locate comparable nucleic

acid sequences from the 3 species of Canidsacid sequences from the 3 species of Canids Align the sequences with CLUSTALWAlign the sequences with CLUSTALW Create a rooted tree by including a strong Create a rooted tree by including a strong

outlier species (outlier species (FelisFelis?)?) Hypothesize about the relationship among the Hypothesize about the relationship among the

species based on alignment data and tree species based on alignment data and tree structurestructure

Discuss implications for federal listing of Red Discuss implications for federal listing of Red Wolf as a separate endangered speciesWolf as a separate endangered species

Compare an unknown sequence with the Compare an unknown sequence with the baseline data (A forensic case study)baseline data (A forensic case study)

You be the detective! Stacey Kiser has discovered a long lost dusty pelt in the Lane County Historical Society archives. The pelt is dated 1880 and appears to be from a canine . She determined the cytochrome b sequence information listed below. Align her sequence data with the example sequence information for the three putative Canus species and attempt to identify from which species the pelt was collected.

Forensics ActivityForensics Activity You be the detective! Stacey Kiser has You be the detective! Stacey Kiser has

discovered a long lost dusty pelt in the discovered a long lost dusty pelt in the Lane County Historical Society archives. Lane County Historical Society archives. The pelt is dated 1880 and appears to The pelt is dated 1880 and appears to be from a canine . She determined the be from a canine . She determined the cytochrome b sequence information cytochrome b sequence information listed below. Align her sequence data listed below. Align her sequence data with the example sequence information with the example sequence information for the three putative for the three putative Canus Canus species and species and attempt to identify from which species attempt to identify from which species the pelt was collected.the pelt was collected.

Tree for Tree for CanisCanis

Sequence/Protein Sequence/Protein GraphicsGraphics

HandoutsHandouts

Instructions for using WorkbenchInstructions for using Workbench Activity sheetsActivity sheets