Dogs of War: The Effect of War‐Inflicted Environmental Damage on Free‐Ranging Domestic Dogs

Title (eng)
Dogs of War: The Effect of War‐Inflicted Environmental Damage on Free‐Ranging Domestic Dogs
Author
Mariia Martsiv
Author
Ihor Dykyy
Author
Małgorzata Witek
Author
Piotr Chibowski
Author
Giulia Cimarelli
Author
Andre E. Moura
Author
Małgorzata Pilot
Abstract (eng)
Wars impose unprecedented environmental damage that has rarely been studied in real time. Domestic dogs are an accessible model species during war times, because they enable data collection without specialised equipment and skills, which can be performed without creating additional danger to humans or animals involved. We compared phenotypic traits in Ukrainian dogs living close to the front line with those from other regions of Ukraine. We found significant differences in frequencies and diversity of multiple morphological traits, consistent with mortality-based selection at the front line. We also found differences in age structure and frequency of diseases and injuries, consistent with high mortality of old and ill individuals. The front-line population had low average BMI and stable isotope analysis suggested malnutrition and low trophic level. Our study shows that wars can be factors of strong and fast natural selection, with the effects comparable to large-scale natural or anthropogenic disasters.
Keywords (eng)
Anthropogenic DisasterContemporary EvolutionDomestic DogsMortalityNatural SelectionWar-inflicted Environmental Damage
Type (eng)
journal article
Language
[eng]
Persistent identifier
https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:5071
DOI
10.1111/eva.70182
Is in series
Title (eng)
Evolutionary Applications
Volume
18
Issue
12
ISSN
1752-4571
Issued
2025
Number of pages
20
Publication
Wiley
Version type (eng)
version of record (published version)
Date issued
2025
Access rights (eng)
open access
License
CC BY 4.0 International
Rights statement (eng)
© 2025 The Author(s)