1,721,015 research outputs found
Noninvasive Genotyping of the Red-Legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa, Phasianidae): Semi-Nested PCR of Mitochondrial DNA from Feces
No full textDNA-based studies using avian feces are scarce and deal only with large sized species. The red-legged partridge, Alectoris rufa, is a medium-sized member of the order Galliformes. Our goal was to set up a fast, noninvasive procedure for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genotyping of A. rufa fecal samples. We focused on the protected population from Elba Island (Tuscan Archipelago National Park, Italy). Dry A. rufa fecal samples (n = 30) were collected in winter. Both the cytochrome b gene (1,092 bp) and the control region (ca. 1,155 bp) were amplified by means of semi-nested PCRs. Twenty-five samples were successfully sequenced for both genes:
8 showed A. rufa mtDNA lineage and 17 chukar partridge (A. chukar), an exotic species. Mixed maternal ancestry suggests A. rufa x A. chukar hybridization. Our protocol allows noninvasive mtDNA genotyping of any Alectoris species and appears suitable to investigate protected populations as well as those existing either
at very low density or inhabiting poorly accessible regions
Conservation genetics and management of the Chukar Partridge Alectoris chukar in Cyprus and the Middle East
No full textThe Chukar Partridge Alectoris chukar (Phasianidae) is a popular game bird whose range extends
from the Balkans to eastern Asia. The Chukar is threatened by human-mediated hybridization either
with congeneric species (Red-Legged A. rufa and Rock A. graeca Partridges) from Europe or exotic
conspecifics (from eastern Asia), mainly through introductions. We investigated Chukar populations
of the Middle East (Cyprus, Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, Armenia, Georgia, Iran and Turkmenistan: n =
89 specimens) in order to obtain useful genetic information for the management of this species. We
sequenced the entire mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) Control Region using Mediterranean (Greece:
n = 27) and eastern Asian (China: n = 18) populations as intraspecific outgroups. The Cypriot
Chukars (wild and farmed birds) showed high diversity and only native genotypes; signatures of
both demographic and spatial expansion were found. Our dataset suggests that Cyprus holds the
most ancient A. chukar haplotype of the Middle East. We found A. rufa mtDNA lineage in Lebanese
Chukars as well as A. chukar haplotypes of Chinese origin in Greek and Turkish Chukars. Given the
very real risk of genetic pollution, we conclude that present management of game species such as
the Chukar cannot avoid anymore the use of molecular tools. We recommend that Chukars must
not be translocated from elsewhere to Cyprus
Barbary, chukar and red-legged: 10 years of research on Alectoris partridges at the University of Pisa
No full textPopolazioni moderne ed estinte di francolino nero (Francolinus francolinus, Galliformes): un approccio genetico-molecolare
No full textCollezioni museali e biogeografia molecolare del francolino nero (Francolinus francolinus, Phasianidae)
No full textThe red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) from Elba Island: conservation perspectives for a last resort resource in Italy
No full textThe red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa, Galliformes) is listed as Species of European Conservation Concern (SPEC 2) and evaluated as threatened under the European legislation. Although introgressed with the exotic chukar partridge (A. chukar), the conservation value of the Elba Island population (Tuscan Archipelago National Park, central Italy) is not under question, as it represents the ultimate wild repository of at least part of the otherwise extinct Italian A. r. rufa genome. Moreover, its comparatively long natural history, self-sustainability and lack of restocking over the last 25 years represent additional valuable features. Nevertheless, the alleged affiliation of this population to the nominal subspecies has not been investigated yet, though it would provide key information for its management within an adaptive conservation framework. In this study, we collected 113 fecal samples across Elba and genotyped the joint Cytochrome-b and Control Region genes (ca. 2,250 nucleotides) for comparison with 149 conspecifics from all over the species distribution range. Other than confirming extensive A. chukar mitochondrial DNA introgression in Elba partridges, their assignment to the nominal subspecies from Italy and France was disproved by haplotypes ascribed to its Iberian counterpart. Moreover, after 30 years of steady demographic decrease of local partridges, our analyses show very limited connectivity between western and eastern subpopulations due to conifer reforestation, which made the habitat in central Elba unsuitable for the species. These data call for the creation of ecological corridors to restore connectivity and evaluate the possible adaptive introgression in this overtly admixed yet irreplaceable landbird island population
Restocking plans and genetic conservation in Mediterranean Alectoris populations
No full textGenetic biodiversity preservation is the most important requirement to guarantee the survival of a species. All of the Alectoris populations (Aves, Galliformes) that inhabit the Mediterranean Sea, namely the red-legged partridge (A. rufa), the rock partridge (A. graeca), the barbary partridge (A. barbara) and the chukar (A. chukar), are important game species. They are included into the list of the Species of European Conservation Concern (SPEC), due to their vulnerable or even endangered threat status. Naturally occurring hybridisations into the genus Alectoris represent a relatively restricted phenomenon when compared to the widespread, illegal exercise of rising up unnatural, captive-bred hybrid partridges. Unfortunately, these farmed birds are often used without genetic control in restocking activities to counterbalance drawings for hunting purposes, with a strong risk of native, genetic biodiversity loss. The Department of Ethology, Ecology and Evolution of the University of Pisa (Italy) started to work since 2001 to investigate populations from Mediterranean area, to gain insights into the effects of the restocking plans on their genetic structure. Alectoris populations are currently investigated in Spain, Corse (France), Italy, Greece and Cyprus. Molecular techniques such as mitochondrial DNA markers sequencing and Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprinting are applied. This latter, successfully worked for detecting A. rufa x A. graeca as well as A. rufa x A. chukar hybrid partridges, revealing to be a reliable, time-saving, and relatively low-cost technique to unequivocally eradicate not pure bird
Molecular phylogeography and museum specimens: the case of the black francolin (Francolinus francolinus)
Full text linkThanks to the recent advances in molecular biology, application of archival DNA techniques for the investigation of specimens preserved in museums has come to represent an invaluable tool in conservation and evolutionary studies. The benefits of such an approach are evident with rare and elusive taxa displaying extremely wide distribution ranges. Sampling may be even more challenging with species whose range stretches over remote or politically unstable countries. As case in point, the extent of occurrence of the black francolin (Francolinus francolinus, Phasianidae) ranges from Cyprus across the Middle East to the Indian sub-continent, including six morphologically recognized clinal subspecies. Renowned as valuable game bird since the Classical Age, the black francolin has always aroused a considerable fascination, yet investigations on this species are still scarce. The goal of this study is getting a comprehensive insight into the phylogeographic pattern of the black francolin by means of a molecular approach to implement the available ecological data for planning management actions within an adaptive conservation framework. In order to pursue a whole coverage of the species distribution range, a number of tissues were loaned from properly selected specimens (n = 77) hosted at US and European natural history museum collections to implement the sampling of modern representatives (n = 205). All of the samples were investigated at a 185 bp-long fragment of the mitochondrial DNA Control Region. Overall, a well-marked intra-specific genetic structure largely coherent with the identification of traditional subspecies emerged, but the most interesting result was the occurrence of haplotypes ascribed to the Near East and the Indian subcontinent also in historical birds from Italy and Spain, which points to the importation of staple and rare exotic species from faraway places fueled by elite demand during the Medieval times and the Renaissance
Genetic characterization of game bird island populations: the conservation of the black francolin (Francolinus francolinus) of Cyprus
No full textThe release of exotic genotypes into the wild can lead to the extinction of local demes through the hybridization among distinct gene pools. This may occur between wild specimens and their domesticated relatives. Escaped pets represent a well-known pathway for the introduction of allochtonous resources, and island environments require major attention as they include small-sized and naïve populations that may be prone to extinction. We characterized the genetic make-up of the black francolin (Francolinus francolinus, Phasianidae) resident to Cyprus using microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA for the purpose of sustainable use and long-term protection of this game species. We collected 59 samples of specimens hunted in the districts of Nicosia and Paphos, while others (n=18) were obtained from birds of unknown origin. These had been imported to a pet-centre in Nicosia, the largest in the capital offering animals either for production or leisure purposes. Both genetic systems pointed to the occurrence of distinct wild district populations that could be treated as separate management units. The non-significant value of the inbreeding coefficient (FIS) computed for Nicosia and Paphos populations (-0.039 and -0.189, respectively: P>0.05) and the lack of evidence for recent genetic bottlenecks did not indicate a serious risk of over-hunting. The microsatellites revealed the birds in the pet-centre as highly genetically divergent with respect to the wild ones, the mtDNA pointed to their assignment to alien Asian subspecies once they were compared to141 sequences of allopatric francolins. We advised the Game & Fauna Service to consider law enforcement to ban the import, detention and sale of these subspecies to protect the black francolin population native to Cyprus. The results are discussed in the context of a bibliographic frame including the partridges of the genus Alectoris (Phasianidae) as a model group with reference to genetic characterization and conservation of game bird island population
Primo dato genetico per il fratino (Charadrius alexandrinus) in Italia e confronto su scala continentale
Full text linkThe Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus, Charadriformes) is a shorebird with a huge range including beaches and salt pans across northern temperate to subtropical latitudes of Europe, Asia, and Africa. In the last decades, the availability of breeding sites for this species has been greatly reduced through direct destruction or functional loss of
dune areas due to a remarkable expansion of coastal tourism. Altogether this has often prevented the Kentish Plover from settling along the shore and, wherever possible, its reproductive success has in any case been negatively impacted by human disturbance. In Italy, the species is in sharp decline and reported as Endangered in the national Red List of vertebrates. Three well-established nuclei are known in Tuscany, with one occurring in the municipality of Castagneto Carducci (Province of Livorno). In this area, after a strong storm a cracked egg was recovered in 2020 on the beach of the Special Area of Conservation/Special Protection Area Padule di Bolgheri. A 523 bp-long fragment of the mitochondrial DNA Control Region was amplified by PCR. The sequence was aligned with those available (n = 198) in the GenBank (i) to determine relationships between the Italian representative and conspecifics from the entire range based on both their geographical origin and affiliation to mainland/island populations, (ii) to identify genetically homogeneous clusters, and (iii) to test a hypothesis of sudden demographic expansion across the entire range of the species. Overall, the haplotypic diversity (h) was 0.86 ± 0.02 while the nucleotide diversity (π, %) was 0.46 ± 0.28, with the island populations holding higher values than the mainland ones (except Azores: h = 0.12 ± 0.11, π = 0.24 ± 0.43).
Thirty-five (e.g., Taiwan, 8; Ukraine, 7; Russia, 5) over a total of 47 haplotypes (H) turned out to be private, while all the remaining ones were shared by several populations. Of these, two (H3, H14) showed up with a remarkably high frequency (18.5% and 31.6%, respectively): H3 occurred almost exclusively in Europe while H14 across the whole
Eurasia (more to the East than to the West). The Median Joining network reflected a double-star structure with most of the haplotypes being a single-mutational step away from H3 and H14, a pattern that did not change when the birds from the mainland and island populations were investigated separately. The single Italian representative was assigned
to H3 as well as most of the individuals from the Iberian Peninsula and Macaronesia. The Analysis of the Molecular Variance indicated that the 25.53% of the genetic diversity was partitioned among populations and the 74.47% among individuals within populations (φST = 0.25; P < 0.001). The values of Fs and D statistics of Fu’s and Tajima tests were
- 26.782 (P < 0.001) and 1.680 (P = 0.016), respectively, and the curve of Mismatch Distribution showed a markedly unimodal trend (Harpending index: r = 0.027, P = 0.45). Therefore, the hypothesis of a sudden demographic expansion across the whole species’ range could not be rejected. A Bayesian clustering analysis of the 199 investigated sequences
pointed to the occurrence of three genetic groups. Clusters 1 (red, n = 86; mean membership value, 0.43) and 3 (green, n = 83, with the Italian representative: mean membership value, 0.46) occurred mostly across Europe and in the eastern part of the species’ range, respectively, whereas cluster 2 (yellow, n = 30: mean membership value, 0.11) included birds from Cape Verde, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates. However, these groups did not reflect a significant spatial genetic structure across the Kentish Plover’s range, thus confirming the well-known high levels of intraspecific gene flow. In conclusion, while this study provided the first contribution to the knowledge of genetic relationships of the Italian Kentish Plover population, a national scale investigation of this species to draw up more adequately informed conservation strategies cannot be delayed any longer
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