European agreements for nature conservation need to explicitly address wolf-dog hybridisation
Salvatori,Valeria Donfrancesco,Valerio Trouwborst,Arie Boitani,Luigi Linnell,John D.C. Alvares,Francisco Akesson,Mikael Balys,Vaidas Blanco,Juan Carlos Chiriac,Silviu
Salvatori,Valeria
Donfrancesco,Valerio
Trouwborst,Arie
Boitani,Luigi
Linnell,John D.C.
Alvares,Francisco
Akesson,Mikael
Balys,Vaidas
Blanco,Juan Carlos
Chiriac,Silviu
Abstract
Hybridisation between wolves and dogs is increasingly reported in Europe. Nonetheless, no systematic survey has ever been attempted at the continental scale. We made the first assessment of wolf-dog hybridisation (WDH) occurrence in Europe and analysed how the phenomenon is addressed by international legislation and managed at the country level. We found that WDH is reported in all nine extant European wolf populations, and in 21 out of 26 countries for which we received information. The two main international legal instruments (i.e., the Habitats Directive and the Bern Convention) do not explicitly mention the threat posed by hybridisation but do provide guidance promoting control of free-ranging wolf-dog hybrids. However, we recorded poor compliance with such recommendations in most European countries, and a lack of coordination in addressing WDH among countries sharing the same wolf population. Alarmingly, we revealed a lack of well-designed and implemented country-wide genetic surveys to detect and monitor hybridisation, both relevant pre-requisites to effectively implement WDH management. By recommending criteria for an operative definition of “hybrid”, we also suggest improvements to enhance WDH-related policy at the European scale.
Description
Date
2020-08
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Volume Title
Publisher
Research Projects
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Keywords
SDG 15 - Life on Land
Citation
Salvatori, V, Donfrancesco, V, Trouwborst, A, Boitani, L, Linnell, J D C, Alvares, F, Akesson, M, Balys, V, Blanco, J C, Chiriac, S, Cirovic, D, Groff, C, Guinot-Ghestem, M, Huber, D, Kojola, I, Kusak, J, Kutal, M, Iliopoulos, Y, Ionescu, O, Majic Skrbinsek, A, Mannil, P, Marucco, F, Melovski, D, Myslajek, R, Nowak, S, Ozolins, J, Rauer, G, Reinhardt, I, Rigg, R, Schley, L, Skrbinsek, T, Svensson, L, Trajce, A, Trbojevic, I, Tzingarska, E, von Arx, M & Ciucci, P 2020, 'European agreements for nature conservation need to explicitly address wolf-dog hybridisation', Biological Conservation, vol. 248, no. August 2020, 108525, pp. 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108525