作者: Giovanni Forcina , Monica Guerrini , Filippo Barbanera
DOI: 10.1016/J.ZOOL.2019.125740
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摘要: The ever-increasing biotic homogenization - especially when associated with introgressive hybridization raises concern for the reduction of spatial component diversity in wildlife worldwide. Nonetheless, there is a growing attention to potential conservation value fastening adaptive evolutionary responses rapidly changing selective pressures. Under these premises, we investigated genetic affinity red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) population inhabiting Elba Island (Italy) context overall species phylogeography and particularly nominate subspecies it traditionally ascribed to. Although notoriously hybrid congeneric A. chukar, this island undisputedly because its long natural history self-sustainability. As such, management calls comprehensive knowledge including assessment geographic origin. For purpose, 110 fecal samples were collected across Elba, genotyped at their joint Cytochrome-b Control Region genes (2,249 characters), compared 149 conspecifics from all over distribution range. We confirmed widespread chukar mitochondrial DNA introgression partridges, whereas expected formal assignment Italy France was rejected, since turned out be closely related Iberian Peninsula. This counterintuitive result found support large variety literary sources compelling evidences personal testimonies revealing recent intense farm-reared birds Spanish nativeness partridges disproved, advise local authorities keep warranting ongoing efforts restore connectivity between western eastern sub-populations as resource may still conceived ultimate repository part otherwise extinct Italian r. rufa genome. Indeed, admixture Peninsula does not necessarily mean that entirety native nuclear genome has been wiped out. Furthermore, latter represent an interesting case study biology investigate possible role played by adaptation land use vegetation cover changes rural abandonment insular yet heavily anthropized context.