More Like this

1. Biologically Inspired Multi-Robot System based on Wolf Hunting Behavior

   https://doi.org/10.5038/YCJK4503  

   Hinnen, Zachary; Hamilton, Chance; Weitzenfeld, Alfredo (May 2023, University of South Florida)

   Weitzenfeld, A (Ed.)

   Studies involving the group predator behavior of wolves have inspired multiple robotic architectures to mimic these biological behaviors in their designs and research. In this work, we aim to use robotic systems to mimic wolf packs' single and group behavior. This work aims to extend the original research by Weitzenfeld et al [7] and evaluate under a new multi-robot robot system architecture. The multiple robot architecture includes a 'Prey' pursued by a wolf pack consisting of an 'Alpha' and 'Beta' robotic group. The Alpha Wolf' will be the group leader, searching and tracking the 'Prey.' At the same time, the multiple Beta 'Wolves' will follow behind the Alpha, tracking and maintaining a set distance in the formation. The robotic systems used are multiple raspberry pi-robots designed in the USF bio-robotics lab that use a combination of color cameras and distance sensors to assist the Beta 'Wolves' in keeping a set distance between the Alpha "Wolf" and themselves. Several experiments were performed in simulation, using Webots, and with physical robots. An analysis was done comparing the performance of the physical robot in the real world to the virtual robot in the simulated environment. 

   more » « less
2. Grey wolf genomic history reveals a dual ancestry of dogs

   https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-04824-9  

   Bergström, Anders; Stanton, David_W G; Taron, Ulrike H; Frantz, Laurent; Sinding, Mikkel-Holger S; Ersmark, Erik; Pfrengle, Saskia; Cassatt-Johnstone, Molly; Lebrasseur, Ophélie; Girdland-Flink, Linus; et al (July 2022, Nature)

   Abstract The grey wolf (Canis lupus) was the first species to give rise to a domestic population, and they remained widespread throughout the last Ice Age when many other large mammal species went extinct. Little is known, however, about the history and possible extinction of past wolf populations or when and where the wolf progenitors of the present-day dog lineage (Canis familiaris) lived^1–8. Here we analysed 72 ancient wolf genomes spanning the last 100,000 years from Europe, Siberia and North America. We found that wolf populations were highly connected throughout the Late Pleistocene, with levels of differentiation an order of magnitude lower than they are today. This population connectivity allowed us to detect natural selection across the time series, including rapid fixation of mutations in the geneIFT8840,000–30,000 years ago. We show that dogs are overall more closely related to ancient wolves from eastern Eurasia than to those from western Eurasia, suggesting a domestication process in the east. However, we also found that dogs in the Near East and Africa derive up to half of their ancestry from a distinct population related to modern southwest Eurasian wolves, reflecting either an independent domestication process or admixture from local wolves. None of the analysed ancient wolf genomes is a direct match for either of these dog ancestries, meaning that the exact progenitor populations remain to be located. 

   more » « less
3. Ancient Hybridization with an Unknown Population Facilitated High-Altitude Adaptation of Canids

   https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaa113  

   Wang, Ming-Shan; Wang, Sheng; Li, Yan; Jhala, Yadvendradev; Thakur, Mukesh; Otecko, Newton O; Si, Jing-Fang; Chen, Hong-Man; Shapiro, Beth; Nielsen, Rasmus; et al (May 2020, Molecular Biology and Evolution)

   Parsch, John (Ed.)

   Abstract Genetic introgression not only provides material for adaptive evolution but also confounds our understanding of evolutionary history. This is particularly true for canids, a species complex in which genome sequencing and analysis has revealed a complex history of admixture and introgression. Here, we sequence 19 new whole genomes from high-altitude Tibetan and Himalayan wolves and dogs and combine these into a larger data set of 166 whole canid genomes. Using these data, we explore the evolutionary history and adaptation of these and other canid lineages. We find that Tibetan and Himalayan wolves are closely related to each other, and that ∼39% of their nuclear genome is derived from an as-yet-unrecognized wolf-like lineage that is deeply diverged from living Holarctic wolves and dogs. The EPAS1 haplotype, which is present at high frequencies in Tibetan dog breeds and wolves and confers an adaptive advantage to animals living at high altitudes, was probably derived from this ancient lineage. Our study underscores the complexity of canid evolution and demonstrates how admixture and introgression can shape the evolutionary trajectories of species. 

   more » « less
4. Coyotes take advantage of ungulate carrion subsidies as wolves recolonize Washington

   https://doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2024-0019  

   Malesis, Anna N; Windell, Rebecca M; Vanbianchi, Carmen M; Prugh, Laura R (June 2024, Canadian Journal of Zoology)

   Apex predators exert suppressive effects on mesocarnivores; however, they also provide important carrion subsidies. Optimal foraging theory predicts that individuals respond to resource competition by using high-value resources, while competition theory predicts that individuals respond by partitioning resources. This study investigated how the return of wolves ( Canis lupus Linneas, 1758) to Washington state impacted the diet of a subordinate carnivore—the coyote ( Canis latrans Say, 1823). We collected coyote scats from two areas of northern Washington with differing wolf densities and used traditional analysis of undigested remains to infer diet. We tested for differences in the volumes of prey categories, the proportion of ungulate prey that was scavenged, and diet diversity between seasons, study sites, and inside and outside of wolf pack territories. Coyote scats contained more adult ungulate remains inside of wolf pack territories (27%) compared to outside (14%), while seeds and berries were more commonly consumed outside of wolf pack territories (23%) than inside of wolf pack territories (4%). These findings suggest that coyotes are taking advantage of wolf kills to increase ungulate carrion consumption, as predicted by optimal foraging theory, which may substantially affect plant and wildlife communities as wolves continue to recover and coyote diets shift in response. 

   more » « less
5. Extinct Beringian wolf morphotype found in the continental U.S. has implications for wolf migration and evolution

   https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.2141  

   Meachen, Julie A.; Brannick, Alexandria L.; Fry, Trent J. (April 2016, Ecology and Evolution)

   Abstract Pleistocene diversity was much higher than today, for example there were three distinct wolf morphotypes (dire, gray, Beringian) in North America versus one today (gray). Previous fossil evidence suggested that these three groups overlapped ecologically, but split the landscape geographically. The Natural Trap Cave (NTC) fossil site in Wyoming,USAis an ideally placed late Pleistocene site to study the geographical movement of species from northern to middle North America before, during, and after the last glacial maximum. Until now, it has been unclear what type of wolf was present atNTC. We analyzed morphometrics of three wolf groups (dire, extant North American gray, Alaskan Beringian) to determine which wolves were present atNTCand what this indicates about wolf diversity and migration in Pleistocene North America. Results showNTCwolves group with Alaskan Beringian wolves. This provides the first morphological evidence for Beringian wolves in mid‐continental North America. Their location atNTCand their radiocarbon ages suggest that they followed a temporary channel through the glaciers. Results suggest high levels of competition and diversity in Pleistocene North American wolves. The presence of mid‐continental Beringian morphotypes adds important data for untangling the history of immigration and evolution ofCanisin North America. 

   more » « less