Abstract:
The conservation of many fragmented and small populations of endangered African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) relies on
understanding the natural processes affecting genetic diversity, demographics, and future viability. We used extensive
behavioural, life-history, and genetic data from reintroduced African wild dogs in South Africa to (1) test for inbreeding
avoidance via mate selection and (2) model the potential consequences of avoidance on population persistence. Results
suggested that wild dogs avoided mating with kin. Inbreeding was rare in natal packs, after reproductive vacancies, and
between sibling cohorts (observed on 0.8%, 12.5%, and 3.8% of occasions, respectively). Only one of the six (16.7%)
breeding pairs confirmed as third-order (or closer) kin consisted of animals that were familiar with each other, while no
other paired individuals had any prior association. Computer-simulated populations allowed to experience inbreeding had
only a 1.6% probability of extinction within 100 years, whereas all populations avoiding incestuous matings became extinct
due to the absence of unrelated mates. Populations that avoided mating with first-order relatives became extinct after 63
years compared with persistence of 37 and 19 years for those also prevented from second-order and third-order matings,
respectively. Although stronger inbreeding avoidance maintains significantly more genetic variation, our results
demonstrate the potentially severe demographic impacts of reduced numbers of suitable mates on the future viability
of small, isolated wild dog populations. The rapid rate of population decline suggests that extinction may occur before
inbreeding depression is observed.
