Wolf microevolution in the melting pot: range expansion, population sympatry, dynamic mosaic admixture zone and asymmetric gene flow
- 11. Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic; 2. Department of Biology and Ecology, University of Ostrava, Ostrava,
Abstract
Here we describe substantial range shifts of historically differentiated wolf populations and formation of novel sympatric zones during the recent decade in Central Europe. This region provides a natural laboratory for testing alternative scenarios of population interactions from continued isolation or restricted gene flow to progressive population fusion, while prompting a reassessment of their geographic ranges. Based on sampling across the Czech Republic and Slovakia obtained from large-scale monitoring programmes over five wolf years (2020/21_2024/25), complemented by comparative material from neighbouring regions, we analysed mitochondrial haplotypes, autosomal microsatellite genotypes and sex-linked loci. The Central European population with Baltic ancestry predominated across large parts of Central Europe including the Bohemian Massif with enclaves in the Western Carpathians. The Carpathian population was predominant in Slovakia, with a smaller satellite occurrence in the northern part of the Bohemian Massif. Alpine population was centred in the Alps but extended into southern parts of Bohemian Massif and Central German Uplands. Following the sporadic occurrence of admixed individuals, broad mosaic and dynamic sympatric zones have formed in the Czech Republic and Slovakia in the last decade. These scenarios could be facilitated by the presence of intermediate habitats and isolation of the Bohemian Massif structural basin, framed by a massive ring fault system. Recent-immigration estimates are asymmetric, with the largest mean contributions from the Alpine to the Central European population and from the Central European to the Carpathian population, with the second case potentially linked to source-sink dynamics driven by the hunting pressure within the Carpathian population (whereas the others are protected year-round). Whether increasing admixture will enhance viability of populations (that currently have small effective sizes) through genetic rescue or carry risks of outbreeding depression remains uncertain, highlighting the need for continued transboundary monitoring within conservation biology framework.
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BibTeX
@misc{srutova2026wolf,
title = {{Wolf microevolution in the melting pot: range expansion, population sympatry, dynamic mosaic admixture zone and asymmetric gene flow}},
author = {J. Srutova and N. Tkacova and E. Cetkovska and K. Eliasova and L. Veselovska and L. Ungrova and K. Montoya and M. Skrobanek and P. Mateju and M. Dula and A. Vorel and J. Mokry and K. Mikslova and S. Collet and C. Nowak and F. Rolle and F. Marucco and M. Szewczyk and R. Myslajek and S. Nowak and S. Findo and V. Antal and M. Kutal and J. Jelinkova and B. C. Bolfikova and P. Hulva},
howpublished = {bioRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.64898/2026.09.02.748779},
url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.02.748779v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Wolf microevolution in the melting pot: range expansion, population sympatry, dynamic mosaic admixture zone and asymmetric gene flow
AU - J. Srutova
AU - N. Tkacova
AU - E. Cetkovska
AU - K. Eliasova
AU - L. Veselovska
AU - L. Ungrova
AU - K. Montoya
AU - M. Skrobanek
AU - P. Mateju
AU - M. Dula
AU - A. Vorel
AU - J. Mokry
AU - K. Mikslova
AU - S. Collet
AU - C. Nowak
AU - F. Rolle
AU - F. Marucco
AU - M. Szewczyk
AU - R. Myslajek
AU - S. Nowak
AU - S. Findo
AU - V. Antal
AU - M. Kutal
AU - J. Jelinkova
AU - B. C. Bolfikova
AU - P. Hulva
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/02
PB - bioRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.09.02.748779
UR - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.02.748779v1
AB - Here we describe substantial range shifts of historically differentiated wolf populations and formation of novel sympatric zones during the recent decade in Central Europe. This region provides a natural laboratory for testing alternative scenarios of population interactions from continued isolation or restricted gene flow to progressive population fusion, while prompting a reassessment of their geographic ranges. Based on sampling across the Czech Republic and Slovakia obtained from large-scale monitoring programmes over five wolf years (2020/21_2024/25), complemented by comparative material from neighbouring regions, we analysed mitochondrial haplotypes, autosomal microsatellite genotypes and sex-linked loci. The Central European population with Baltic ancestry predominated across large parts of Central Europe including the Bohemian Massif with enclaves in the Western Carpathians. The Carpathian population was predominant in Slovakia, with a smaller satellite occurrence in the northern part of the Bohemian Massif. Alpine population was centred in the Alps but extended into southern parts of Bohemian Massif and Central German Uplands. Following the sporadic occurrence of admixed individuals, broad mosaic and dynamic sympatric zones have formed in the Czech Republic and Slovakia in the last decade. These scenarios could be facilitated by the presence of intermediate habitats and isolation of the Bohemian Massif structural basin, framed by a massive ring fault system. Recent-immigration estimates are asymmetric, with the largest mean contributions from the Alpine to the Central European population and from the Central European to the Carpathian population, with the second case potentially linked to source-sink dynamics driven by the hunting pressure within the Carpathian population (whereas the others are protected year-round). Whether increasing admixture will enhance viability of populations (that currently have small effective sizes) through genetic rescue or carry risks of outbreeding depression remains uncertain, highlighting the need for continued transboundary monitoring within conservation biology framework.
ER -