Wolf (Canis lupus L.), Wolf-Dog (C. lupus × C. familiaris), Dog-Wolf (C. familiaris × C. lupus) Hybrids and Ecological Niche

Long-term studies (1975–2023) in the Central Laboratory of the Ecology of the Wolf Population Group using original methods confirm that the family consists of parents and only young individuals (up to 1 year). A different social structure is typical of packs with wolf-dog hybrids. On the basis of publications about stray (feral) dogs and their hybrids with wolves, the author proposed to identify hybrid packs as wolf-dog (female wolf) and dog-wolf (female dog): the former inherit the life strategy and lifestyle of the wolf, and the latter inherit that of dogs; therefore, they live in packs (parcels) of different ages all year round and can unite more than 18 individuals in a pack. Analysis of the social, spatial, and behavioral niches (“subniches”) of feral dogs, the wolf, and its hybrids showed that they occupy different ecological niches. The author not only proposed a new approach to studying the fundamental and realized niches of other animal species but also demonstrated it using the example of studies of the width of the trophic niche of wolf and elk populations.