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The golden jackal (Canis aureus) is expanding its range across Europe. This process includes ongoing colonization of Slovenia, which may be occurring from the Dalmatian population on the Adriatic Coast and/or the Pannonian Basin population to the east. We analysed genetic profiles from tissue samples collected in Slovenia (n=20), Dalmatia (n=21), northern (n=21) and eastern (n=7) Croatia, and Serbia (n=30) to determine local genetic diversity and the relative influence of the two potential source populations. We examined 15 microsatellite genetic markers already used in national wolf (C. lupus) genetic monitoring, and screened for possible hybrids with reference profiles from wolves and dogs (C. l. familiaris). Our results support the presence of two population clusters ; Dalmatia (n = 21) and a second cluster comprising animals sampled in and around the Panonnian Basin (n = 78). Jackals sampled in Slovenia were primarily assigned to the Pannonian population, although at least four jackals showed sign of Dalmatian ancestry. None of the profiles showed sign of (dog/wolf x jackal) hybrid ancestry. For the Dalmatian population, the average number of alleles per locus (allelic diversity ; Na) was 3.200 (SE 0.279), the observed heterozygosity (Ho) was 0.470 (SE 0.056) and unbiased expected heterozygosity (uHe) was 0.493 (0.051). For the Pannonian population, Na was 4.400 (0.434), Ho was 0.571 (SE 0.043) and uHe was 0.592 (0.038). Future investigation can help clarify whether the pattern of Pannonian-dominated immigration may be changing over time. Moreover, we recommend further study of the ecological function of jackals, their interactions with humans and domestic livestock, and continued monitoring to allow detection of possible hybridization with other canid species. Finally, we found jackal DNA at 21 damage cases during 2013-2018, and there are altogether 30 noninvasive genetic samples where we can confirm jackal presence based on diagnostic alleles. Among these, 20 samples have genotype quality that will allow inclusion in future genetic analyses. |
