Disease outbreaks select for mate choice and coat color in wolves
2 institutional releases
Published in Science · View the paper (DOI)
Research from the University of Oxford and Yellowstone National Park found that wolves with black coats are more likely to survive canine distemper virus (CDV) outbreaks. This suggests that the gene for a black coat may provide protection against the virus, leading to its increased frequency in areas with CDV outbreaks.
Coverage from 2 institutions
- Sickly shades of grey: Disease outbreaks influence the color of wolves across North America University of Oxford · Oct 20, 2022 · first to report
- Canine distemper virus drives selection for black-coated wolves American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) · Oct 20, 2022