Mitochondrial DNA polymorphism in populations of Siberian and European roe deer (Capreolus pygargus and C. capreolus)

Abstract

We have amplified and sequenced 679 nucleotides of the mitochondrial DNA control-region in 45 Siberian (Capreolus pygargus) and European (C. capreolus) roe deer from two localities in Russia and seven in Italy. Average interspecific sequence divergence was 4.9%. Six different haplotypes were found in Siberian roe deer, and 14 haplotypes in Alpine European roe deer. A population of the endemic Italian subspecies C. c. italicus was monomorphic bearing a single haplotype with one unique nucleotide deletion and a fixed transversion. Phylogenetic relationships among haplotypes indicated that the two species were separated with 100% bootstrap support, and there were two distinct population clusters within each species. These clusters correspond to different geographical locations of the samples: Siberian roe deer were subdivided into west Siberia (Kurgan region) and east Siberia (Amur region), and European roe deer were subdivided into an eastern and a western Alpine group. Average sequence divergence among conspecific populations was 1.2%. Calibrations of evolutionary rates of the different domains of the control-region suggest that Siberian and European roe deer speciated about 2-3 million years ago, and haplotype diversity within species was generated during the last 150 000-370 000 years. Geographical structuring of sequence variability in roe deer allows us to identify historical and recent intraspecific population differences, including the effects of human disturbance. The genetic peculiarities of the endemic Italian subspecies C. c. italicus call for careful conservation of its surviving populations.

Mitochondrial DNA variation and matrilineal structure in blue sheep populations of Helan Mountain, China

“…This study examined the nucleotide diversity (Å = 0.00392 ± 0.00046) and haplotype diversity (h = 0.792 ± 0.037) among 71 samples of blue sheep collected from throughout the NHMNR. Molecular variation measured in terms of nucleotide diversity is an order of magnitude lower than corresponding values reported for four bovine species from similar studies based on variation in the mtDNA D-loop region: white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus (Zimmermann, 1780); Å = 0.026; Moscarella et al 2003), Swayne's hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei; Å = 0.044 ± 0.022; Flagstad et al 2000), eastern roe deer (Capreolus pygargus (Pallas, 1771); Å = 0.012; Randi et al 1998), and eastern African buffalo (Syncerus caffer (Sparrman, 1779); Å = 0.038 ± 0.002; Hooft et al 2002). Nevertheless, the levels of genetic diversity detected were similar to those in other species that have undergone bottlenecks, including koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus (Goldfuss, 1817); h = 0.379 ± 0.016, Å = 0.0022 ± 0.0001; Fowler et al 2000), Sichuan takin (Budorcas taxicolor Hodgson, 1850; h = 0.718, Å = 0.0086; Li et al 2003), and white-breasted wood-wren (Henicorhina leucosticta (Cabanis, 1847); h = 0.75, Å = 0.0052 ± 0.0005; Brown et al 2004).…”

Transcription of a protein-coding gene on B chromosomes of the Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus)

“…The Siberian roe deer is closely related to the European roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus, 2n = 70), but these two species do have some morphological and karyological differences and are well resolved in molecular phylogenies [21,22]. The only derived karyotypic character of the Siberian roe deer is the presence of B chromosomes [23], the number of supernumerary elements usually varies both between individuals and between cells within the same individual albeit some individuals may possess a stable number of Bs [24].…”

Complex patterns of population genetic structure of moose, Alces alces, after recent spatial expansion in Poland revealed by sex-linked markers

“…We used a Bayesian approach implemented in BEAST v1.7.2 software (Drummond et al 2012) to calculate the time of divergence between European and Asian moose, and also between two distinct European clades (Central Europe and Ural), and between particular groups/branches from clade Central Europe for concatenated control region and cytochrome b sequences. A strict molecular clock was applied with previously reported mutation rates for control region (4 and 8 % Ma) and cytochrome b (2 % Ma) in ungulates (Randi et al 1998). Due to the fact that the mutation rate has not been calibrated for moose, we also used a mutation rate of 31.4 % per million years for mtDNA-cr derived for domestic cattle (Bradley et al 1996).…”