Author Archives: Nathan Lyle
Dogs are resistant to prion infection, due to the presence of aspartic or glutamic acid at position 163 of their prion protein
December 30, 2021
Unlike other species, prion disease has never been described in dogs even though they were similarly exposed to the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) agent. This resistance prompted a thorough analysis of the canine PRNP gene and the presence of a … read more
Posted in CWD & Other Diseases | Tagged canids, canine, dog, interspecies transmission, prion infection, prion susceptibility, scrapie, transgenic mouse models, transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, transmission barrier
Spatial compartmentalization: A nonlethal predator mechanism to reduce parasite transmission between prey species
December 30, 2021
Predators can modulate disease transmission within prey populations by influencing prey demography and behavior. Predator-prey dynamics can involve multiple species in heterogeneous landscapes; however, studies of predation on disease transmission rarely consider the role of landscapes or the transmission among … read more
Posted in Benefits of Wolves
Liberalizing the killing of wolves State of the science
December 30, 2021
Recently, some state governments began pursuing aggressive efforts to reduce wolf populations through programs that include liberalized hunting and trapping seasons, and efforts to incentivize killing (e.g., bounties). These efforts represent a departure from policies of the recent past, raising … read more
Posted in Hunting Wolves | Tagged Bounties, carnivores, killing, Policies, science, State Government, wolves
Become A WCC Junior Wolf Biologist | Wolf Conservation Center
December 30, 2021
Love wolves? Become a certified Wolf Conservation Center Junior Wolf Biologist! Children are encouraged to build upon their knowledge of wolves by completing the digital “Junior Wolf Biologist Training Guide” and sending it to the Wolf Conservation Center wolf experts … read more
Posted in Front Page News
Metabarcoding of fecal DNA shows dietary diversification in wolves substitutes for ungulates in an island archipelago
November 29, 2021
Although ungulates are the main prey of wolves (Canis lupus) throughout their range, substantial dietary diversity may allow wolves to persist even when ungulates are declining or rare. Alexander Archipelago wolves (Canis lupus ligoni) inhabit distinct mainland and island biogeographic … read more
Posted in Biology | Tagged Alexander Archipelago, Canis lupus, dietary niche breadth, Enhydra lutris, foraging ecology, non-invasive sampling, predator–prey ecology, scat
Understanding drivers of human tolerance to gray wolves and brown bears as a strategy to improve landholder – carnivore coexistence
November 29, 2021
Despite recent recovery of large carnivores throughout Europe such as the brown bear (Ursus arctos) and the gray wolf (Canis lupus), some of their populations are still threatened and their viability depends on human tolerance to share mixed landscapes. We … read more
Posted in Human Dimensions


