We analyzed 121 golden jackals (Canis aureus) from six sample sites in Serbia with regard to genetic variability and differentiation as revealed by mitochondrial control region sequences and eight nuclear microsatellite loci. There was no variation at all in the mtDNA sequences, and nuclear variability was very low (average observed and expected heterozygosity of 0.29 and 0.34, respectively). This is in line with the considerable recent range expansion of this species in the Balkans and indicates a strong founder effect in the recently established Serbian population. We did not find evidence of differentiation between the northeastern jackals and those from the plain of Srem or those in between. F-statistics and Bayesian Structure analyses, however, were indicative of a low degree of overall differentiation in the Serbian population. A vagrant Austrian jackal that was also analyzed was genetically indistinguishable from its Serbian conspecifics.
Aim Climate changes in the past had a deep impact on the evolutionary history of many species and left genetic signatures that are often still detectable today. We investigated the geographical pattern of mitochondrial DNA diversity in the European wild boar (Sus scrofa). Our final aims were to clarify the influence of present and past climatic conditions, infer the geographical position of glacial refugia, and suggest post-glacial spatial dynamics.Location Europe.Methods D-loop sequences were obtained for 763 individuals from Portugal to western Russia. Phylogenetic, multivariate and interpolation methods were used to describe the genetic and geographical patterns. Climatic suitability during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) was predicted using MaxEnt. The effect of present and past suitability on the observed patterns of diversity was evaluated by multiple linear regression. ResultsWe confirmed the existence of a ubiquitous mitochondrial clade in Europe (E1), an endemic clade in Italy (E2) and a few East Asian haplotypes (A), presumably introgressed from domestic pigs. No Near Eastern haplotypes were detected. Genetic divergence was not simply related to geographical distance. A clear south-north decreasing gradient of diversity was observed, with maximum levels in putative glacial refugia. Latitudinal variation in climatic conditions during the LGM was shown to be a good predictor of current genetic diversity. Moreover, an unexpected similarity between Iberia and eastern Europe was observed, while central European populations showed a higher affinity to the Italian gene pool. Main conclusionsThe current distribution of mitochondrial genetic diversity was highly influenced by past climatic events, especially those related to the LGM, and is consistent with a major contribution of the Italian peninsula and the Balkans to the post-glacial recolonization of northern areas. More recent processes, such as restocking and extensive hunting, probably acted at rather local scales, without great impact on the global pattern of mitochondrial diversity.
Hybridization between wild species and their domestic relatives can be an important conservation and management problem. Genetic purity of the wild species is desirable per se and the phenomenon can have unpredictable evolutionary consequences. Declining European wild boar populations were frequently restocked with farmed wild boars that sometimes had been crossed with domestic pigs. We used simple polymerase chain reaction‐based diagnostic tests to detect the presence of mitochondrial DNA and coat colour alleles of domestic origin in wild boars from Belgium, Luxembourg, and western Germany. Microsatellite genotypes were used to test for genetic admixture between the wild boars and domestic pigs. Although almost one‐third of all Luxembourg wild boars carried Asian mitochondrial DNA haplotypes originating from domestic pigs, microsatellite‐based clustering only identified four putatively admixed individuals in Luxembourg. By contrast, clustering identified wild boar × domestic hybrids in most sampling locations in Belgium. We interpret these results as evidence of releases of hybrid captive‐reared wild boars. Our results emphasize the need (if working with classical markers) to use different systems to obtain an understanding as to whether hybridization between wild and domestic relatives might have affected the genetic make‐up of a local population. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 110, 104–115.
A population genetic analysis based on sequences of the mitochondrial control region in 110 red foxes from five sampling localities in northern Serbia was carried out. The analysis yielded nine different haplotypes. Neither haplotype phylogeny nor their distribution was in accordance with the geographic location of the populations. In particular, the data failed to detect an unequivocal influence of the two big rivers, the Danube and the Tisza, separating the populations studied. Population differentiation was altogether low, without any relationship to the rivers as possible migration barriers. Although the possibility of foxes crossing the rivers over bridges or by swimming, thus keeping up gene flow, cannot be ruled out, it is most probable that the control region sequences are not sensitive enough to resolve small-scale population relationships but rather show patterns determined by stochastic processes such as genetic drift or lineage sorting.
Mit dem vorliegenden Werk liefert der Autor einen wirklich gelungenen und anschaulichen Beitrag zur vergleichenden Anatomie von Wildtieren. In zehn Kapiteln wird eine Vielzahl europa¨ischer und afrikanischer Paarhufer anhand interspezifischer Vergleiche von Organen und anatomischer Gesamtansichten ausdrucksvoll dargestellt. Besondere Aufmerksamkeit schenkt der Autor dabei dem Verdauungssystem (speziell Speicheldru¨sen und Wiederka¨uermagen), dessen Beschreibung sich wie ein roter Faden durch das gesamte Buch zieht und bei fast jeder untersuchten Spezies erneut aufgegriffen wird.Das gesamte erste Kapitel widmet der Autor den Speicheldru¨sen der Wiederka¨uer, an deren relativer Gro¨ße er die Erna¨hrungsgewohnheiten der Arten einscha¨tzen kann. Die gleiche Aussagekraft schreibt er in einem weiteren Kapitel der Schleimhautstruktur und der Gro¨ße des Pansens zu. Zu diversen Wildtieren (Elchen, Rothirschen, Ga¨msen, Rehen, einigen afrikanischen Antilopen, Wildschweinen und Afrikanischen Bu¨ffeln) werden die bereits erwa¨hnten, aber auch einige ganz spezielle Aspekte illustriert, die zumeist auch in ihrer Funktion und evolutiven Bedeutung versta¨ndlich erkla¨rt werden. Praktische Anwendungen finden die anatomischen Studien und die daraus gewonnenen Erkenntnisse unter anderem in der Jagdbiologie (Ermittlung von to¨dlichen Schusszonen) und in der Tierpra¨-paration.Der Text ist flu¨ssig geschrieben, und die Sprache hat einen vertrauten Ton. Die Vermittlung der Inhalte du¨rfte auch auf einen (interessierten) Laien nicht u¨berfordernd wirken. Sie bildet vielmehr nur den Rahmen fu¨r die vielen hervorragenden Zeichnungen und Fotografien, die sich durch die pra¨zise Anfertigung in den meisten Fa¨llen fast schon von selbst erkla¨ren. Sie vermitteln dem Betrachter oftmals einen dreidimensionalen Eindruck, der fu¨r viele Anwendungen unentbehrlich ist. Man vermisst jedoch gerade bei der Abbildung von Organpra¨paraten allzu oft einen Maßstab.Ein Buch mit einer solchen Fu¨lle an Abbildungen rechtfertigt selbstversta¨ndlich einen erho¨hten Preis, wobei der Inhalt jedoch sehr speziell ist und damit die Anschaffung fu¨r knapp 60 Euro wohl eher selten spontan geta¨tigt wird.Dennoch findet ein Veterina¨rmediziner, ein Wildbiologe oder ein Pra¨parator eine umfangreiche Darstellung des Themas vor, mit einer ansprechenden Kombination aus Ü bersichten und Detailaufnahmengezeichnet wie fotografiert. J. Kirschning
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