1. Ancient DNA Advances in molecular genetic techniques have promoted the use of historic and ancient samples to answer questions related to wildlife conservation. I used pre-Columbian canid samples from the Lawson Prehistoric Iroquois Village in London, Ontario to answer questions about the historic distribution of the eastern wolf. I am also interested in integrating Traditional Ecological Knowledge of the First Nations communities with current research methods to provide a better understanding of the historical aspects of wolf ecology. Collaborators Bradley White, Biology Department, Trent University Kirsten Bos & Hendrick Poinar, McMaster Ancient DNA Centre Robert Pearce, Ontario Museum of Archaeology Rutledge, L.Y., Bos, K.I., Pearce, R., White, B.N. 2009. Genetic and morphometric analysis of 16th century Canis skull fragments: implications for historic eastern and gray wolf distribution in North America. Conservation Genetics. DOI 10.1007/s10592-009-9957-2. Abstract 2. Hybridization Glaciations, deforestation and eradication programs have dramatically affected the distribution of wolves in North America and promoted hybridization of eastern wolves with both gray wolves (C. lupus) and western coyotes (C. latrans). Part of my research documented that eastern wolves in Algonquin Provincial Park are genetically differentiated from surrounding populations and that the provide a genetic bridge between grey-eastern wolf hybrids north of the park and eastern coyotes south of the park. Rutledge, L.Y., Garroway, C.J., Loveless, K.M., Patterson, B.R. 2010. Genetic differentiation of eastern wolves despite bridging gene flow between coyotes and grey wolves. Heredity. 105:520-531. doi: 10.1038/hdy.2010.6 Abstract 3. Evolution & Social Responses To Exploitation Human-caused mortality is known to have dramatic impacts on evolutionary responses in wildlife, including decreased fitness, increased hybridization, and changes in social responses. In naturally regulated systems, wolf packs tend to comprise family groups, but intense harvest pressure is thought to disrupt this social structure, thereby leading to an increase in the adoption of unrelated individuals. In Algonquin Park, the high mortality from human influences may have led to the high incidence of unrelated individuals in packs. Part of my research involves assessing the impact that the harvest ban around the park has had on pack social structure. I am also looking at the functional genes, such as ATPase in the mitochondria and MHC genes in the nuclear genome to further explore the evolutionary origins of eastern wolves in context to red wolves (C. rufus), coyotes (C. latrans) and gray wolves (C. lupus). Collaborators Bradley White, Biology Department, Trent University Brent Patterson, Research Scientist, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Ken Mills, Wolf Management Specialist, Wyoming Game & Fish Department Karen Loveless, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks Dennis Murray, Biology Department, Trent University Rutledge, L.Y., Patterson, B.R., Mills, K., Loveless, K.M., Murray, D.L., White, B.N. 2010. Protection from harvesting restores natural social structure of eastern wolf packs. Biological Conservation.143: 332-339. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2009.10.017. Abstract 4. Noninvasive Genetics I am also interested in promoting the use of noninvasive methods for studying wildlife. Part of my research has focused on identifying sampling methods that improve genotyping reliability from noninvasive DNA sources like scat, and urine or blood in snow. In conjunction with this, I am interested in the ethics and philosophy of human impacts on animal behaviour, and how humans influence evolutionary responses in wildlife. Collaborators Josh Holloway, Environmental & Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University Brent Patterson, Research Scientist, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Bradley White, Biology Department, Trent University Rutledge, L.Y., Holloway, J., Patterson, B.R., White, B.N. 2009. An improved field method to obtain DNA for individual identification from wolf scat. Journal of Wildlife Management. November 73(1430-1435). Abstracthttp://web.nrdpfc.ca/bios/dr_bradleywhite.htmlhttp://socserv.mcmaster.ca/adna/http://www.uwo.ca/museum/http://www.springerlink.com/content/lw3xx60h6k566413/http://www.nature.com/hdy/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/hdy20106a.htmlhttp://people.trentu.ca/brentpatterson/http://www.trentu.ca/biology/people_murray.phphttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6V5X-4XSSV1Y-1&_user=10&_coverDate=11%2F25%2F2009&_rdoc=19&_fmt=high&_orig=browse&_srch=doc-info(%23toc%235798%239999%23999999999%2399999%23FLA%23display%23Articles)&_cdi=5798&_sort=d&_docanchor=&_ct=31&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=14ed76ee58f21ca60d8b0d25d5be5d7bhttp://www.mendeley.com/research/improved-field-method-obtain-dna-individual-identification-wolf-scat/shapeimage_3_link_0shapeimage_3_link_1shapeimage_3_link_2shapeimage_3_link_3shapeimage_3_link_4shapeimage_3_link_5shapeimage_3_link_6shapeimage_3_link_7shapeimage_3_link_8

Excavating at the Lawson Iroquois Villiage

circa 1530 A.D. eastern wolf jaw fragment

Sunday Pack in Algonquin Provincial Park

Josh Holloway swabbing wolf scat in the field for DNA analysis

Pedigree of the Jocko Pack in Algonquin Provincial Park