Our Wolves - Controversy Surrounding Biological Classification

[haus]

The battle over Gray Wolf(Canis Lupus) Subspecies:
Timeline:

- 24 Wolf Subspecies established by E. Raymond Hall and K. R. Kelson(1959).

- Hall publicizes taxonomic division of Canis lupus into 24 subspecies(1981) becomes the single, most widely accepted classification system of North American wolves.

- Nowak(1995) uses Morphological Analysis - concludes with stating 5 Wolf Subspecies in North America

And let the games begin....

Which is correct?
Current supporters of the north Idaho and YNP transplanting, as well as the immigration of wolves from Canada such as the Methow Valley wolves, rely on Nowak.
Opponents of the transplanting rely on Hall and Kelson.

In my opinion if one were to take Hall and Kelson's theory as fact in one hand and in the other hand took the approach of wild salmon recovery efforts after the recent ESA listings, then placed them together the conclusion would be a concerted effort of complete eradication of every wolf that stem from the ID and MT introduction as well as the supposed immigrants from B.C. to the Methow Valley.

Per the Gray Wolf subspecies classification system presented by Hall and Kelson: Our wolves

The Cascade Mountain Wolf - Canis Lupus Fuscus
Historical Range - Along the Cascades from B.C. to Northern California
Physical Characteristics - Medium sized Gray Wolf subspecies; averaged 3ft tall, 4ft-5ft in length, 80-90lbs
Status - Extinct

Northern Rocky Mountain Wolf - Canis Lupus Irremotus
Historical Range - All of Idaho; All but the north eastern 1/3rd of Montana; Northern 2/3rds of Wyoming; Black Hills of South Dakota; Southern Alberta; Eastern 1/3rd of WA and OR.
Abutting C.L. Occidentalis and C.L. Columbianus to the North(North of the Canadian Border), C.L. Fuscus to the West, C.L. Nubilus(Great Plains Wolf) to the East.
Physical Characteristics - Medium Sized Gray Wolf subspecies; 85-115lbs(*conflicting reports*)
Extinct ? - I've read conflicting reports

Mackenzie Valley Wolf(Also Known as Alaskan Tundra Wolf or Canadian Timber Wolf or Rocky Mountain Wolf) - Canis Lupus Occidentalis
Historical Range - Western Canada
Physical Characteristics - A large Gray Wolf subspecies from Western Canada; 100-175lbs(*conflicting reports*)
Definitely not Extinct

A paragraph I often see on the web: The Mackenzie Valley Wolf has a specialized body that has made it one of the world's most efficient hunters. Its thick, long limbs are proportionally built for traversing through rough terrain such as deep snow or the cliffy mountain edges. Its deep chest hosts large lungs, letting the wolf breathe more efficiently at higher altitudes, and allowing it to exert huge amounts of stamina traveling up to 115 km (~70 miles) in one day. Its powerful neck is a very important adaptation: it has to be strong to support the wolf's large head and is crucial for bringing down prey. The Mackenzie Valley Wolf maximizes heat retention through such methods as using its bushy tail to cover its exposed nose during the winter. It sheds its undercoat during the summer months due to the hotter conditions.

In 1973 the Secretary of the Enterior listed Irremotus as Endangered. In 1978 the trend amongst Taxonomists was to recognize fewer Canis Lupus subspecies. This trend brought about Irremotus being removed from the federal register and its range being reclassified under the base species Canis Lupus.


I'll add more to this later. Too much conflicting perspective and data analysis within the scientific community surrounding the N.A. Gray Wolf and its 24 or 5 subspecies to jot it all down at once.

After reading through;
Phylogeography of wolves (Canis lupus) in the Pacific Northwest
BYRON V. WECKWORTH,* SANDRA L. TALBOT, AND JOSEPH A. COOK(2010)
...my interpretation of their DNA study is that it blows Nowaks 5 subspecies theory out of the water, but I could be interpreting it entirely incorrectly. I'm going to have to brush up on my biology vocabulary  

[wolfbait]

Great research Haus, thanks for the info.  Quite sure if the wolves migrated from Canada, the Methow Valley would have had the wolf problems that we have been having in the last 5 years, many years ago. Like Oregon our wolves didn't have to trot here. At any rate these wolves have and will kill any other wolves that they come across. Bangs said he wanted a wolf that could really kill elk and that is why they picked the Canadian wolves. The devastation that these wolves are causing in the lower 48 exceeds what the oil is doing to the Gulf Coast but we will not be getting any coverage until things have really gone to sh$t, and then the finger pointing will begin. Some years ago David Mech said that the wolves would ruin any chance for co-existence if they were not managed strictly, he was correct in that statement as everyone can see.

[luvtohnt]

Which ever one uses DNA analysis is the one I would go with. It is hard to argue with the material that provides us with our traits!!

Brandon

[Elkaholic daWg]

   We've had sightings of that "extinct" Cascade mountain breed while hunting through the years . There are still a few around. Now let the Mackenzie bunch move in and you bet your arse they WILL be extinct!

[haus]

Which ever one uses DNA analysis is the one I would go with. It is hard to argue with the material that provides us with our traits!!
Brandon

Due to time frame Hall and Kelson didn't have the means to apply DNA analysis.

I'm not sure to what extent or if it all that Nowak used DNA analysis, I have to read more on his study

As for...
Phylogeography of wolves (Canis lupus) in the Pacific Northwest
BYRON V. WECKWORTH,* SANDRA L. TALBOT, AND JOSEPH A. COOK(2010) -

This report is entirely based on mtDNA analysis, examining genetical diversity in N.A. Gray Wolves with specific emphasis towards Pac NW wolves.(that being SW AK and NW BC)

mtDNA vs. nuclear DNA(nDNA)
basic: mtDNA is inherited solely from the mother. nDNA is equally inherited.
advantages of mtDNA analysis for forensic experts:

•Its structure and location in the cell make mtDNA more stable, enabling investigators to test older or degraded samples
•mtDNA is available in larger quantities per cell – smaller samples can be tested
•mtDNA can be extracted from samples in which nDNA cannot, especially hair shafts and bone fragments.

[bearpaw]

Good post haus, I would be very interested to hear if dna was considered in the last reclassification...

[haus]

  We've had sightings of that "extinct" Cascade mountain breed while hunting through the years . There are still a few around. Now let the Mackenzie bunch move in and you bet your arse they WILL be extinct!

 

How would one obtain details from the WDFW about wolves they've picked up in Western Washington?

regarding accidental wolf killings in western WA which were reported to the WDFW. In each case WDFW officials responded to reports and confiscated the carcass with little conversation between them and the reportee.

[haus]

Here's a twist, my current observation...... It's rather clear that throughout the 20th century, due to our desire to increase salmon fisheries we transplanted and artificially reared all of the pacific salmon species in various rivers with little regard to their genetic makeup being unique to each river. Essential a 'salmon is a salmon is a salmon', was the method used to manage salmon stocks. The contention of there being genetical uniqueness found within each rivers salmon stocks has been the basis for salmon run recoveries since the ESA listings began. Environmentalists - non fishing types - lean on this genetical uniqueness as a way to limit fishing opportunities and private property rights.

Now with wolves these very same environmentalists, anti-killing anything types are treating wolves like salmon were treated in the 20th centry. As far as their concerned a wolf is a wolf is a wolf.    Has to make you laugh a little ya know?  Our own WDFW holds to supporting the genetical diversity of our salmon stocks in each river, yet with wolves....eh man its all good its a Wolf, a Wolf is a Wolf!.......WTF?

[bearpaw]

Here's a twist, my current observation...... It's rather clear that throughout the 20th century, due to our desire to increase salmon fisheries we transplanted and artificially reared all of the pacific salmon species in various rivers with little regard to their genetic makeup being unique to each river. Essential a 'salmon is a salmon is a salmon', was the method used to manage salmon stocks. The contention of there being genetical uniqueness found within each rivers salmon stocks has been the basis for salmon run recoveries since the ESA listings began. Environmentalists - non fishing types - lean on this genetical uniqueness as a way to limit fishing opportunities and private property rights.

Now with wolves these very same environmentalists, anti-killing anything types are treating wolves like salmon were treated in the 20th centry. As far as their concerned a wolf is a wolf is a wolf.    Has to make you laugh a little ya know?  Our own WDFW holds to supporting the genetical diversity of our salmon stocks in each river, yet with wolves....eh man its all good its a Wolf, a Wolf is a Wolf!.......WTF?

Was my first thought halfway through your post.

As has been demonstrated by Al Gore and the likes, it is politically correct to twist, and even lie about data to further your cause.