FENRIR · Reconstructing 200 years of genetic history in European wolves

Wolves are an important apex predator species, and their conservation in Europe has been a key concern since their population collapse at the beginning of the 20th century. Increases of wolf population numbers in recent decades provides a positive sign for the viability of this species moving forward, but has also led to the re-emergence of wolf-human conflicts. Thus, maintaining the genetic health and biodiversity of this important natural predator species, whilst minimizing such conflicts remains critical across Europe. In this project, I will investigate the population dynamics and changing genetic makeup of European wolves over the past 200 years. By utilizing a comprehensive next-generation-sequence database of modern (n=927) and historical (n=586) genomes, I aim to implement complex, state-of-the-art analyses to model the fine-scale demographic history, genetic health and dog introgression of European wolves in recent times. By working at the cross section of population genomics, ancient DNA and conservation, this project will provide critical insights into the effects of recent population history events on the genetic makeup of this important predator species. Broad dissemination of the findings of this project to the scientific community, conservation groups and the general public will directly assist in designing targeted management strategies to preserve the biodiversity of European wolves moving into the future. By utilizing one of the largest genomic datasets for a wild animal species to date, the novel methodologies applied in this project will provide a blueprint for future conservation genetics studies in other species.