Introgression of Alectoris chukar genes into a Spanish wild Alectoris rufa population.
In order to detect introgression of other Alectoris genus species into wild populations of Spanish Alectoris rufa, we studied a sample of 93 red-legged partridges (supposed to be A. rufa) captured in the island of Majorca. A set of 31 chukar partridges (Alectoris chukar) from Cyprus and 33 red-legged partridges (A. rufa) from one Spanish farm were also studied to provide suitable populations for comparison. Factorial correspondence analysis on microsatellite genotypes supported a clear distinction of birds from Cyprus, whereas partridges from Majorca and the Spanish farm overlapped in a wide area. The existence of A. chukar mitochondrial DNA in 16 individuals from Majorca indicated introgression into their maternal lineage even if their phenotypes were not different from A. rufa. Bayesian inference based on microsatellite analysis indicated a noticeable degree of genetic proximity to A. chukar only for one of these hybrids.
Tejedor
M Teresa
MT
Laboratory of Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics, Veterinary Faculty, C/Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, Spain. ttejedor@unizar.es
Monteagudo
Luis V
LV
Mautner
Selma
S
Hadjisterkotis
Eleftherios
E
Arruga
M Victoria
MV
D000818:Animals; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D046094:Galliformes / Q000235:genetics*; D051456:Gene Flow; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial