TY - BOOK
T1 - Never Cry Wolf
T2 - The origin and genomic history of the indigenous Greenland dogs and wolves
AU - Sinding, Mikkel Holger Strander
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - Throughout recorded human history, the dog has been a loyal ally, while the wolf is a distrusted
creature or even an enemy. There are few places in the world where these roles of wolf and dogs are
more visible than in Greenland. Here the sled dog has been paramount for the success of Inuit
cultures, and by contrast, the wolf is a competitor for resources and in folklore – a monster.
However, contradicting their opposing relationship to humans the sled dogs and the wolves might
have much in common in terms of bloodlines. Since the first European exploration of Greenland
and the nearby Canadian Arctic, widespread admixture between sled dogs and wild wolves has been
reported and today wolf blood in sled dogs is widely assumed. That this have never been genetically
confirmed, shows how little actually is known about Greenland wolves and dogs, as all fundamental
aspects of their evolution is completely unexplored by genomics. In addition, the last hundred years
have brought great change to Greenland, where dog numbers have decreased due to alternative
lifestyles of Greenlanders, warmer winters with less snow to sled on have given less use of dogs
and introduction of snowmobiles give alternative means of transport. Further, canine distemper
epidemics have wiped-out local dog populations, leading to dogs being imported from other areas.
Put together these changes have almost certainly affected diversity and structure of sled dogs in
Greenland. For the wolves in Greenland the last century has been devastating, with the 1930’s
culminating in their extermination, meaning the potential loss of a distinct but uninvestigated wolf
type. Since the 1970’s wolves have been returning to Greenland but the population context of these
wolves is also uninvestigated. Therefore this PhD generates genome data of 113 (73 >1x) canids of
mostly wolves and dogs, to explore and document the origin and genomic history of indigenous
Greenland dogs and wolves. During data exploration, several findings were made, including many
novel results in surprising parts of the data, overall making 6 structured datasets of focus. 1) When
focusing on modern wolf population structure we find a distinct Polar wolf cluster, presently
existing on Ellesmere Island and Greenland. 2) When focusing on the canid out groups, originally
intended to be used in the investigation of Greenland wolves and dogs, we find massive gene flow
among several members of the genus canis, testifying a complex speciation of most lineages
including the ancestors of all wolves and dogs. 3) When focusing on an ancient Siberian dog
genome we find that the sled dog genomic lineage was established in Siberia before 9.500 years ago
and that these dogs were already used for sledging back then. 4) When focusing on ancient Siberian
wolf genomes, we find that these belong to a extinct group of wolves, that carry coyote admixture,
suggesting they originated in the Americas. Further, towards their extinction, these wolves receive
gene flow from domestic before 18.000 years ago, testifying to an ancient origin and diversification
of dogs. 5) When focusing on modern and historic dogs from Greenland, we find several historic
populations, but when comparing these we find a large reduction in diversity and population
replacements. Further, most surprisingly, we find no wolf gene flow in any sled dogs. 6) When
focusing on Greenland wolves we find that the original exterminated wolves and the wolves that
have re-colonised, are the same distinct Polar wolf population endemic to Axel Heibergs Land,
Ellesmere Island and Greenland. The Polar wolves have very little gene flow with other wolf types
and only a single historic individual have receive dog gene flow, testifying about strong genetic
isolation of these wolves, likely as a consequence strong selection for unique local adaptations.
Together these findings first of all bring extensive knowledge about the evolutionary history of
Greenland dogs and wolves, but also extraordinary insight to dog domestication and the very
complex nature of canid speciation and the origin of all wolves and dogs. With particular relevance
to Greenland, it is concluded that the Polar wolves that inhabit Greenland have been there for
centuries, and that this specific wolf type is genetically distinct from any other wolf in the Arctic.
Regarding Greenland dogs, these results can be used to encourage conservation efforts of local
dogs, by testifying how genetic diversity in Greenland dogs distinguishes them amongst the world’s
dogs, most importantly by having their major pedigree to over 9.500 years old sled dog ancestors.
AB - Throughout recorded human history, the dog has been a loyal ally, while the wolf is a distrusted
creature or even an enemy. There are few places in the world where these roles of wolf and dogs are
more visible than in Greenland. Here the sled dog has been paramount for the success of Inuit
cultures, and by contrast, the wolf is a competitor for resources and in folklore – a monster.
However, contradicting their opposing relationship to humans the sled dogs and the wolves might
have much in common in terms of bloodlines. Since the first European exploration of Greenland
and the nearby Canadian Arctic, widespread admixture between sled dogs and wild wolves has been
reported and today wolf blood in sled dogs is widely assumed. That this have never been genetically
confirmed, shows how little actually is known about Greenland wolves and dogs, as all fundamental
aspects of their evolution is completely unexplored by genomics. In addition, the last hundred years
have brought great change to Greenland, where dog numbers have decreased due to alternative
lifestyles of Greenlanders, warmer winters with less snow to sled on have given less use of dogs
and introduction of snowmobiles give alternative means of transport. Further, canine distemper
epidemics have wiped-out local dog populations, leading to dogs being imported from other areas.
Put together these changes have almost certainly affected diversity and structure of sled dogs in
Greenland. For the wolves in Greenland the last century has been devastating, with the 1930’s
culminating in their extermination, meaning the potential loss of a distinct but uninvestigated wolf
type. Since the 1970’s wolves have been returning to Greenland but the population context of these
wolves is also uninvestigated. Therefore this PhD generates genome data of 113 (73 >1x) canids of
mostly wolves and dogs, to explore and document the origin and genomic history of indigenous
Greenland dogs and wolves. During data exploration, several findings were made, including many
novel results in surprising parts of the data, overall making 6 structured datasets of focus. 1) When
focusing on modern wolf population structure we find a distinct Polar wolf cluster, presently
existing on Ellesmere Island and Greenland. 2) When focusing on the canid out groups, originally
intended to be used in the investigation of Greenland wolves and dogs, we find massive gene flow
among several members of the genus canis, testifying a complex speciation of most lineages
including the ancestors of all wolves and dogs. 3) When focusing on an ancient Siberian dog
genome we find that the sled dog genomic lineage was established in Siberia before 9.500 years ago
and that these dogs were already used for sledging back then. 4) When focusing on ancient Siberian
wolf genomes, we find that these belong to a extinct group of wolves, that carry coyote admixture,
suggesting they originated in the Americas. Further, towards their extinction, these wolves receive
gene flow from domestic before 18.000 years ago, testifying to an ancient origin and diversification
of dogs. 5) When focusing on modern and historic dogs from Greenland, we find several historic
populations, but when comparing these we find a large reduction in diversity and population
replacements. Further, most surprisingly, we find no wolf gene flow in any sled dogs. 6) When
focusing on Greenland wolves we find that the original exterminated wolves and the wolves that
have re-colonised, are the same distinct Polar wolf population endemic to Axel Heibergs Land,
Ellesmere Island and Greenland. The Polar wolves have very little gene flow with other wolf types
and only a single historic individual have receive dog gene flow, testifying about strong genetic
isolation of these wolves, likely as a consequence strong selection for unique local adaptations.
Together these findings first of all bring extensive knowledge about the evolutionary history of
Greenland dogs and wolves, but also extraordinary insight to dog domestication and the very
complex nature of canid speciation and the origin of all wolves and dogs. With particular relevance
to Greenland, it is concluded that the Polar wolves that inhabit Greenland have been there for
centuries, and that this specific wolf type is genetically distinct from any other wolf in the Arctic.
Regarding Greenland dogs, these results can be used to encourage conservation efforts of local
dogs, by testifying how genetic diversity in Greenland dogs distinguishes them amongst the world’s
dogs, most importantly by having their major pedigree to over 9.500 years old sled dog ancestors.
UR - https://rex.kb.dk/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=KGL01010818689&context=L&vid=NUI&search_scope=KGL&tab=default_tab&lang=da_DK
M3 - Ph.D. thesis
BT - Never Cry Wolf
PB - Natural History Museum of Denmark, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen
ER -