Dispersal and source-sink dynamics of gray wolves (Canis lupus) using non-invasive
molecular genetic techniques in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

Collecting wolf scat while snow tracking.

Large carnivores such as wolves (Canis lupus) tend to be highly mobile
both within their home ranges1,2 and during periods of dispersal
and extraterritorial movements3,4. These movements are often through
landscapes that vary in management objectives and attitudes towards wolves5.
The role of mortality and the subsequent recolonization of areas is of key importance
to population viability for wolves6. Currently little is known of
the source-sink dynamics of wolves in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, however
it has suggested that the National Parks in the study area may be acting as
a sink for wolves rather than a source6. Dispersal directions and
distances for general populations and for individuals can be derived from genetic
data7,8 rather than traditional methods of radio or satellite tracking.
The use of genetic methods to quantify dispersal patterns has proven to be a
powerful and cost-effective tool. This study is designed to non-invasively examine
degree of relatedness within and between wolf packs as well as determine parentage
where possible in order to elucidate past movements of individuals between packs
within and from outside protected areas in the study area. Movement patterns
between packs will be analysed to determine rates of immigration/emigration
in order to identify source/sink dynamics between packs.

Rebecca Rothgeb crossing North
Saskatchewan River.
Our objectives are: 1. To identify and catalogue extant individual wolves within
the study area using non-invasive DNA sampling in conjunction with other sources
where possible to determine the genetic structure of the population and minimum
population size. We will catalogue known wolf mortalities in the same region
and relate this to source areas. 2. To determine degree of relatedness between
wolves of different packs, and maternity and paternity for as many wolves sampled
as possible to determine the origin of wolves. 3. To examine territories within
the study area as potential sources or sinks and barriers to dispersal for colonising
wolves.
 

Collecting hair from wolf bed-site. photo
N.Debruyn
 
The study will focus on the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks and surrounding non-parkland
in Alberta and British Columbia, Canada. The area straddles the continental
divide between Alberta and British Columbia, extending west to the Columbia
River Trench and east to include the foothills of Alberta. The northern boundary
of the study is north of the Jasper town site and southern limit is the southern
tip of Banff National Park. We plan to incorporate inter-agency cooperation
to include as many wolf packs in the region as possible.
Although much research with wolves has occurred within the Canadian Rocky Mountain
national parks little work has been completed looking at wolf packs outside
of the parks. To gain better understanding of wolf population dynamics within
the area it is imperative that connections between park and non-park packs be
examined. The project I have outlined is intended to increase the base of knowledge
of wolf dispersal patterns and relatedness of wolf packs within the study area
including transboundary movements made by dispersing individuals.

Nathan Debruyn searching for tracks on Kinbasket Lake.
photo R.Rothgeb
 
The results will be essential for cross-jurisdictional management and cooperation
with regards to wolves which are large, wide ranging carnivores that use a diverse
landscape with varying management objectives. Hunters and trappers that utilize
wolves for recreational harvest and income will benefit from informed decision
making by managers leading towards viable populations and a scientific basis
for harvest regimes.

Wolf track. photo R.Rothgeb
 
The techniques that will be used in the course of this study are relatively
new and have not been used extensively with wolves. The testing of these methods
will provide strength to the general methodology that will have profound effects
on work with rare, elusive and/or cryptic species anywhere they may occur. The
value of collaring wild animals will remain, however these new techniques will
revolutionize the way we approach many questions. The genetic information collected
during the study can be used as baseline data for wolf studies of genetic diversity,
genetic drift, and rates of inbreeding. Repeated sampling in the future will
allow for interpack movements of individuals previously identified in this study
to be identified and quantified using the same methodology.

LITERATURE CITED
1. Cook, S.J, Norris, D.R., Theberge, J.B. 1999. Can. J. Zool. 77:1740-1750.
2. Wabakken, P., Sand, H., Liberg, O., Bjärvall, A. 2001. Can. J. Zool.
79: 710-725. 3. Ballard, W.B., Farnell, R., Stephenson, R.O. 1983. Canadian
Field-Naturalist 97: 333. 4. Boyd, D.K., Pletscher, D.H. 1999. J. Wildl. Manage.
63: 1094-1108. 5. Forbes, G.J. and Theberge, J.B. 1996. Conservation Biology
10: 1091-1097. 6. Callaghan, C.J. 2002. Ph.D. Thesis. University of Guelph,
Guelph, Ontario. 7. Spong, G., Creel, S. (2001) Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B, 268,
2571-2574. 8. Girman, D.J., Mills, M.G.L., Geffen, E., Wayne, R.K. 1997. Behavioral
Ecology and Sociobioogy, 40, 187-198. 9. Lucchini, V., Gabbri, E., Marucco,
F., Ricci, S., Boitani, L., Randi, E. 2002. Molecular Ecology 11: 857-868. 10.
Bernatchez, L. & Duchesne, P. 2000. Can. J. Fish Aquat. Sci. 57: 1-12. 11.
Neff, B.D., Repka, J., Gross, M.R. 2000. Molecular Ecology 9: 529-539. 12. Wilson,
A.J., Ferguson, M.M. 2002. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 59: 1696-1707. 13. Taylor,
B.L., Chivers, S.J., Sexton, S., Dizon, A.E. 2000. Conservation Biology 14:
1287-1297. 14. Waser, P.M., Strobeck, C. 1998. Trends in Ecology and Evolution
13: 43-44. 15. Boughton DA. 1999. Ecology, 80, 2727-2739.
For more information contact:
Conrad Thiessen
CW405 Biological Sciences Center
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada, T6G 2E9
Phone: (780) 492-7599
Fax: (780) 492-9234
Email: conradt@ualberta.ca
Andrew E. Derocher
CW405 Biological Sciences Center
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada, T6G 2E9
Phone: (780) 492-5570
Fax: (780) 492-9234
Email: derocher@ualberta.ca