Characterization of a new eastern wolf mtDNA haplotype from Outaouais region, Québec

Genetic monitoring is an important tool for effective conservation and management of species at risk of extinction. In Canada, the eastern wolf (Canis sp. cf. lycaon) is a threatened species with a range limited to deciduous and mixed forests of central Ontario and parts of south-western Québec. Much of the genetic research on eastern wolves has focused on Ontario where the main population is centralized within Algonquin Provincial Park. Here, we document a previously undescribed eastern wolf mitochondrial DNA haplotype in the Outaouais region of Québec and identify eastern wolves (n=2) amid high admixture based on assignment tests with 10 microsatellite loci. The results suggest that Québec may hold a genetic legacy of eastern wolf ancestry important for recovery, and that Québec requires more attention to fully understand the genetic legacy of eastern wolves across their full range in Canada. The Outaouais region is of particular interest because of its proximity to Algonquin Park and the availability of favourable habitat. Owing to the negative impact of human-caused mortality on eastern wolves, we urge managers to adopt protective measures and long-term monitoring for Canis species in southwestern Québec to maintain genetic diversity and enhance opportunities for bi-directional gene flow between Ontario and Québec.