Reacción a "Reactions: study shows dogs living near Chernobyl are genetically unique"

This study analyses the population structure of dogs at Chernobyl, finding that dogs at Chernobyl had different population structures to two other free-living dog populations. It is important to note, however, that this study in no way links differences in population structure of dogs to current radiation at Chernobyl. It only shows that there is a different mix of breeds and families at Chernobyl compared to the other sites - this isn't a surprising finding given that the current population depends on the particular mix of breeds which survived the domestic animal cull in 1986 as well as subsequent introductions.

The context of this work is poorly explained, in my opinion. For example, the authors claim that ‘the abundance of wildlife populations within the CEZ was significantly reduced following the accident’ - citing the findings of a small study which in my opinion has significant statistical flaws (Moller and Mousseau, 2013; Beaugelin-Seiller et al. 2020) and which has been contradicted by much more robust studies (Deryabina et al. 2015; Webster et al. 2016; Beresford et al. 2023). I think that the paper could mislead the reader, claiming ‘although some species appear to have recovered, likely due to a lack of human disturbance, many have not’ - citing a paper I led when in fact our paper in no way supports the authors' claim that many have not recovered.

I am surprised that the authors do not clearly state in the paper that their results do not show that radiation is causally linked to differences in population structure of dogs at Chernobyl. I am also surprised that the title of the press release claims ‘The dogs of Chernobyl may be genetically distinct due to varying levels of radiation exposure’ when the paper presents no evidence to support a causal relationship between population structure and radiation dose.

That is not to say that extremely high radiation doses in some areas during the first weeks after the accident couldn't have impacted significantly on domestic and wild animal populations. Nor does a lack of evidence in this paper show that there is no effect of radiation on animals at Chernobyl.