title: New Evidences of Mitochondrial DNA Heteroplasmy by Putative Paternal Leakage between the Rock Partridge (Alectoris graeca) and the Chukar Partridge (Alectoris chukar).
abstract: The rock partridge, Alectoris graeca, is a polytypic species declining in Italy mostly due to anthropogenic causes, including the massive releases of the closely related allochthonous chukar partridge Alectoris chukar which produced the formation of hybrids. Molecular approaches are fundamental for the identification of evolutionary units in the perspective of conservation and management, and to correctly select individuals to be used in restocking campaigns. We analyzed a Cytochrome oxidase I (COI) fragment of contemporary and historical A. graeca and A. chukar samples, using duplicated analyses to confirm results and nuclear DNA microsatellites to exclude possible sample cross-contamination. In two contemporary specimens of A. graeca, collected from an anthropogenic hybrid zone, we found evidence of the presence of mtDNA heteroplasmy possibly associated to paternal leakage and suggesting hybridization with captive-bred exotic A. chukar. These results underline significant limitations in the reliability of mtDNA barcoding-based species identification and could have relevant evolutionary and ecological implications that should be accounted for when interpreting data aimed to support conservation actions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach (FEM), San Michele all'Adige, Trento, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gandolfi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach (FEM), San Michele all'Adige, Trento, Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Crestanello
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnologies, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fagotti
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnologies, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Simoncelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chiesa
authors.affiliation: Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach (FEM), San Michele all'Adige, Trento, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Girardi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnologies, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giovagnoli
authors.affiliation: Civic Museum of Zoology, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marangoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnologies, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Di Rosa
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnologies, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Livia
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5051-610X
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lucentini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D046094:Galliformes / Q000235:genetics*; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic; D010802:Phylogeny; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial