Iberian red deer: paraphyletic nature at mtDNAbut nuclear markers support its genetic identity

Abstract

Red deer populations in the Iberian glacial refugium were the main source for postglacial recolonization and subspecific radiation in north‐western Europe. However, the phylogenetic history of Iberian red deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) and its relationships with northern European populations remain uncertain. Here, we study DNA sequences at the mitochondrial control region along with STR markers for over 680 specimens from all the main red deer populations in Spain and other west European areas. Our results from mitochondrial and genomic DNA show contrasting patterns, likely related to the nature of these types of DNA markers and their specific processes of change over time. The results, taken together, bring support to two distinct, cryptic maternal lineages for Iberian red deer that predated the last glacial maximum and that have maintained geographically well differentiated until present. Haplotype relationships show that only one of them contributed to the northern postglacial recolonization. However, allele frequencies of nuclear markers evidenced one main differentiation between Iberian and northern European subspecies although also supported the structure of both matrilines within Iberia. Thus, our findings reveal a paraphyletic nature for Iberian red deer but also its genetic identity and differentiation with respect to northern subspecies. Finally, we suggest that maintaining the singularity of Iberian red deer requires preventing not only restocking practices with red deer specimens belonging to other European populations but also translocations between both Iberian lineages.

Calibration of life history traits with epiphyseal closure, dental eruption and bone histology in captive and wild red deer

“…Growth variations between C. e. hispanicus populations of Badajoz and Lleida could be attributed to their belonging to different lineages (Carranza et al. ); however, we should bear in mind that the existence of different genetic lineages results from natural selection acting on body mass and/or LH traits. Thus, it is also possible that their different habitat and management cause variations in growth.…”

Old and young female voices: effects of body weight, condition and social discomfort on the vocal aging in red deer hinds (Cervus elaphus)

“…Calls of red deer hinds were recorded from 10 June 2011 to 27 June 2011 and from 14 June 2012 to 23 June 2012 at the experimental farm of the University of Castilla-La Mancha (Albacete, Spain, 38°57 10 N, 1°47 00 W, 690 m a.s.l.). The population originated in 1994 from 15 male and 50 female Iberian red deer, phylogenetically representing the Western European line according to Skog et al (2009); or the central Iberian-Western European line according to Carranza et al (2016), from a nearby Las Dehesas public game reserve in Alpera (Albacete) and from Cabañeros National Park (Toledo). The animals used in this study were born and kept in four 10 000 m 2 enclosures on an irrigated pasture.…”

Mitochondrial DNA of pre‐last glacial maximum red deer from NW Spain suggests a more complex phylogeographical history for the species

“…Red deer recolonized Europe after the LGM from this refugium (Meiri et al., ) and, as it has already been suggested by other authors, the genetic glacial composition of the species in this area presented relict foreign haplotypes (Meiri et al., ). At present, Spanish red deer populations can be grouped into two distinct maternal lineages (Sc and Sw) connected to two refugial areas in the Iberian Peninsula during the Würm glacial period (Carranza, Salinas, Andrés, & Pérez‐González, ; Fernández‐García, Carranza, Martínez, & Randi, ). It has been suggested that only one of these lineages (Sc) contributed to the northwestern European postglacial recolonization (Carranza et al., ).…”

“…At present, Spanish red deer populations can be grouped into two distinct maternal lineages (Sc and Sw) connected to two refugial areas in the Iberian Peninsula during the Würm glacial period (Carranza, Salinas, Andrés, & Pérez‐González, ; Fernández‐García, Carranza, Martínez, & Randi, ). It has been suggested that only one of these lineages (Sc) contributed to the northwestern European postglacial recolonization (Carranza et al., ).…”