The Effects of Urbanization on the Major Histocompatibility Complex in Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)

Abstract

The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is recognized as being one of the most plastic species in its ability to occupy both cities and their surrounding rural environments. In the city and suburbs of Zurich, Switzerland five fox populations were studied. A previous study by Wandeler et al. (2003) showed that there was genetic differentiation among neutral microsatellite loci. Here, I expanded on their research and explored the hypothesis that varying patterns in genetic structure are due to habitat location. I examined 11 Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) loci in 100 foxes from three rural and two urban areas. Non-modeling and modeling approaches were used to estimate spatial clustering and ideal population size and revealed that there was a significant relationship between population loci differentiation and spatial clustering. These results indicate that observed patterns in MHC variation are due to various geographic locations and their respective selection pressures. It would beneficial for future researchers to explore contemporary studies and further compare the genetic variation among the urban and rural fox populations.