Influence of Wolf-Corvid Interactions on Canine Domestication

Genomic evidence indicates the divergence of wolves and dogs to be between the years 11,000-16,000 BP, during the Upper Paleolithic. However, there is archaeological evidence of dog-like canids which date as far back as 36,000 years ago (kya) (Skoglund, Ersmark, Palkopoulou, & Dalén, 2015). There are many hypotheses that try to explain the causation of wolf domestication. In this essay I will discuss whether the distinct interaction between wolves and corvids had any influence on the domestication of the wolf.

With both hominins and canids being apex predators, their sites of occupation and hunting activities often overlapped due to them sharing an ecological niche (Serpell, 1995). This could have caused self-domestication through scavenging; wolves with better learning abilities and memory might be attracted by human settlements more frequently. This would result in a reduced fear response, they would acquire greater food

Lefebvre, inventor of the world’s only comprehensive avian IQ index, ranks the corvid family at the top of the list. Animal behaviourist Konrad Lorenz considered ravens to have he “highest mental development of any bird”. As with humans and wolves, crows and ravens are highly social animals, this means that companionship and play is rewarding in the same way as food. The chemicals in the brain reinforce behaviour

Bibliography

Li, Y., Wang, G.-D., Wang, M.-S., Irwin, D. M., Wu, D.-D., & Zhang, Y.-P. (2014). Domestication of the Dog from the Wolf Was Promoted by Enhanced Excitatory Synaptic Plasticity: A Hypothesis. Genome Biology and Evolution, 6(11), 3115-3132.

Serpell, J. (1995). The Domestic Dog: Its Evolution, Behaviour and Interactions with People. Cambridge University Press.

Skoglund, P., Ersmark, E., Palkopoulou, E., & Dalén, L. (2015). Ancient Wolf Genome Reveals an Early Divergence of Domestic Dog Ancestors and Admixture into High-Latitude Breeds. Current Biology, 25(11),