title: Admixture and local breed marginalization threaten Algerian sheep diversity.
abstract: Due to its geo-climatic conditions, Algeria represents a biodiversity hotspot, with sheep breeds well adapted to a patchwork of extremely heterogeneous harsh habitats. The importance of this peculiar genetic reservoir increases as climate change drives the demand for new adaptations. However, the expansion of a single breed (Ouled-Djellal) which occurred in the last decades has generated a critical situation for the other breeds; some of them are being subjected to uncontrolled cross-breeding with the favored breed and/or to marginalization (effective size contraction). This study investigated genetic diversity within and among six of the nine Algerian breeds, by use of 30 microsatellite markers. Our results showed that, in spite of the census contraction experienced by most of the considered breeds, genetic diversity is still substantial (average gene diversity ranging 0.68 to 0.76) and inbreeding was not identified as a problem. However, two breeds (Rembi and Taâdmit) appeared to have lost most of their genetic originality because of intensive cross-breeding with Ouled-Djellal. Based on the above evidence, we suggest Hamra, Sidaoun, and D'man as breeds deserving the highest priority for conservation in Algeria.
authors: Department of Biology, Aboubakr Belkaid Tlemcen University, Tlemcen, Algeria; Molecular and Cellular Laboratory (USTOM), University of Sciences and Technology, Mohamed Boudiaf, Oran, Algeria.
authors: Samir Bachir Souheil
authors: SB
authors: Gaouar
authors: INRA, UMR1061 Génétique Moléculaire Animale, Limoges, France; Université de Limoges, UMR1061 Génétique Moléculaire Animale, Limoges, France.
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Da Silva
authors: Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors: Elena
authors: E
authors: Ciani
authors: Livestock and Wildlife Laboratory, Arid Lands Institute Medenine, Medenine, Tunisia; Laboratory of Genetics, Immunology and Human Pathology, Faculty of Sciences, Tunis-El Manar University, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors: Samia
authors: S
authors: Kdidi
authors: Technical Institute of Breeding (ITElv) of Aïn El-Hadjar, Saïda, Algeria.
authors: Miloud
authors: M
authors: Aouissat
authors: Technical Institute of Breeding (ITElv) of Aïn M'lila, Constantine, Algeria.
authors: Laziz
authors: L
authors: Dhimi
authors: Laboratoire des Biotechnologies liées à la Reproduction Animale (LBRA) Université de Blida, Blida, Algérie.
authors: Mohamed
authors: M
authors: Lafri
authors: INRA, UMR1061 Génétique Moléculaire Animale, Limoges, France; Université de Limoges, UMR1061 Génétique Moléculaire Animale, Limoges, France.
authors: Abderrahman
authors: A
authors: Maftah
authors: Department of Biology, Aboubakr Belkaid Tlemcen University, Tlemcen, Algeria.
authors: Nadhira
authors: N
authors: Mehtar
mesh_terms: D000462:Algeria; D000483:Alleles; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D001947:Breeding; D002980:Climate; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006579:Heterozygote; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics; D012756:Sheep / Q000235:genetics*; D034561:Sheep, Domestic / Q000235:genetics*; D013045:Species Specificity