The Wildcat in Central-Northern italian peninsula: a biogeographical dilemma

Ragni, Bernardino; Possenti, Mariagrazia; Sforzi, Andrea; Zavalloni, Daniele; Ciani, F.

doi:10.21426/b617110417

Cited by 9 publications

(8 citation statements)

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“…1a). However, we cannot reject the alternative hypothesis, even if improbable (Ragni et al 1994) that low-density populations have previously been missed in these regions. However, we cannot reject the alternative hypothesis, even if improbable (Ragni et al 1994) that low-density populations have previously been missed in these regions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 73%

Non-invasive monitoring of the European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris Schreber, 1777): comparative analysis of three different monitoring techniques and evaluation of their integration

et al. 2015

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 73%

Non-invasive monitoring of the European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris Schreber, 1777): comparative analysis of three different monitoring techniques and evaluation of their integration

et al. 2015

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“…Regione Marche and Tuscany Maremma are, respectively, the northern and western borders of the wildcat range in Italy. The Tuscany coastal area, with Mediterranean ecosystems, presents a higher density of free‐ranging domestic cats than in the forested Apennine core areas of the wildcat distribution (Ragni et al . 1994).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bayesian analyses of admixture in wild and domestic cats (Felis silvestris) using linked microsatellite loci

Lecis

Pierpaoli

Birò³

et al. 2005

Molecular Ecology

144

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Methods recently developed to infer population structure and admixture mostly use individual genotypes described by unlinked neutral markers. However, Hardy-Weinberg and linkage disequilibria among independent markers decline rapidly with admixture time, and the admixture signals could be lost in a few generations. In this study, we aimed to describe genetic admixture in 182 European wild and domestic cats (Felis silvestris), which hybridize sporadically in Italy and extensively in Hungary. Cats were genotyped at 27 microsatellites, including 21 linked loci mapping on five distinct feline linkage groups. Genotypes were analysed with structure 2.1, a Bayesian procedure designed to model admixture linkage disequilibrium, which promises to assess efficiently older admixture events using tightly linked markers. Results showed that domestic and wild cats sampled in Italy were split into two distinct clusters with average proportions of membership Q > 0.90, congruent with prior morphological identifications. In contrast, free-living cats sampled in Hungary were assigned partly to the domestic and the wild cat clusters, with Q < 0.50. Admixture analyses of individual genotypes identified, respectively, 5/61 (8%), and 16-20/65 (25-31%) hybrids among the Italian wildcats and Hungarian free-living cats. Similar results were obtained in the past using unlinked loci, although the new linked markers identified additional admixed wildcats in Italy. Linkage analyses confirm that hybridization is limited in Italian, but widespread in Hungarian wildcats, a population that is threatened by cross-breeding with free-ranging domestic cats. The total panel of 27 loci performed better than the linked loci alone in the identification of domestic and known hybrid cats, suggesting that a large number of linked plus unlinked markers can improve the results of admixture analyses. Inferred recombination events led to identify the population of origin of chromosomal segments, suggesting that admixture mapping experiments can be designed also in wild populations.

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“…The red fox does not perform well in very cold climates, e.g. [Palacios, 1996]; southern chamois Rupicapra pyrenaica [Masini & Lovari, 1988]; and, perhaps, wildcats Felis silvestris [Ragni et al, 1993]). Nowak, 1991).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quaternary radiation and genetic structure of the red fox Vulpes vulpes in the Mediterranean Basin, as revealed by allozymes and mitochondrial DNA

et al. 1998

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The Quaternary dispersal of the red fox Vulpes vulpes in the Mediterranean area was evaluated through the study of allelic variation at 45 enzyme loci in 120 individuals from 10 sampling sites. A 375 bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene was also sequenced in a total of 41 specimens from the same sampling locations. Nine allozyme loci were polymorphic. The proportion of polymorphic loci per population (P) ranged from 0 to 15.6%, and expected average heterozygosity (H) from 0 to 4.4%. A total of 18 different Cyt b haplotypes were detected. Most of them were con®ned to only one population. Both allozyme and mtDNA data implied that our fox populations were genetically fairly isolated from one another, suggesting low gene¯ow between them. This isolation should be of comparatively recent origin according to the slight differentiation among Cyt b haplotypes. Fox populations appeared to belong to two genetically distinct groups. With a mean value of Nei's D = 0.024, genetic distance between these groups was similar to that detected at subspecies level in taxa of large mammals. This pattern may have originated from different colonization waves during Quaternary glaciations and deglaciations. Red foxes from Sardinia were more closely related to the Bulgarian foxes than to the Iberian ones. However, repeated introductions to Sardinia probably also occurred from Central Italy and Spain, as suggested by the presence of haplotype A and a typical Central Italian allele, Ck-2 90 .

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The Wildcat in Central-Northern italian peninsula: a biogeographical dilemma

Cited by 9 publications

References 0 publications

Non-invasive monitoring of the European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris Schreber, 1777): comparative analysis of three different monitoring techniques and evaluation of their integration

Non-invasive monitoring of the European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris Schreber, 1777): comparative analysis of three different monitoring techniques and evaluation of their integration

Bayesian analyses of admixture in wild and domestic cats (Felis silvestris) using linked microsatellite loci

Quaternary radiation and genetic structure of the red fox Vulpes vulpes in the Mediterranean Basin, as revealed by allozymes and mitochondrial DNA

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