A comparative analysis of stray dogs color in Yakutsk

In this study we consider the frequency of coat color variation among Yakutsk stray dogs. The study was carried out at the same time in three city districts: Centralniy, Saysarskiy and Stroitelniy. The districts differ in urban development and population density of stray dogs. The Stroitelniy and Saysarskiy Districts belong to a one-two-storey residential type of the building, the Centralniy one – to a multi-storey residential type. 8 types of colors were distinguished: black, white, red, wolf-gray (agouti), yellow with a mask, black-backed, white large-spotted and black with white spots. The analysis of the morphs was carried out in percent, as well as Zhivotovsky’s indications: the average number of morphs (µ), proportion of rare phens (h), phonetic similarity of groups (r). The most frequent is a black-backed color – 21,42% (95% confidence interval: 17,33–26,92). The wolf-gray type of color – 18,56% (CI: 14,00–25,00) and the black with white spots type – 15,62% (CI: 11,54–20,00) are also very frequent. The white large-spotted color (4,62% CI: 3,33–6,67) is the least frequent among the selected types. It is proved that the population of stray dogs in Yakutsk is quite homogeneous. One-to-one comparison of stray dog groups from different districts of Yakutsk showed that the groups from the Centralniy and Stroitelniy Districts turned out to be the closest (r = 0,972 ± 0,024). The lowest connection between dogs groups were observed in the Saysarskiy and Stroitelniy Districts (r = 0,933 ± 0,029). The collation of the Centralniy and Saysarskiy Districts also revealed an analogy between these groups of stray dogs (r = 0,956 ± 0,034). Therefore, the morphotype of stray dogs in Yakutsk is formed mainly without any human influence, mostly have a random pattern. Conditions of life can impact to the selection; as a result the most accommodated individuals survive on the street in the region with a severe climate.