Rabbit mitochondrial DNA diversity from prehistoric to modern times

Abstract

The mitochondrial genetic variability in European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) populations present in Europe and North Africa from 11,000 years ago to the present day has been analyzed using ancient DNA techniques. DNA was extracted from 90 rabbit bones found in 22 archaeological sites dated between the Mesolithic and recent times. Nucleotide sequences present in a variable 233-bp domain of the cytochrome b gene were compared to those present in modern-day rabbits. The results show that the structure of ancient populations of wild rabbit exhibited remarkable stability over time until the Middle Ages. At this time, a novel type of mtDNA molecule abruptly appears into most wild populations studied from France. This mtDNA type corresponds to that currently present in the domestic breeds of rabbit examined so far. The relative rapidity by which this mtDNA type established and its absence in all sites examined before 1,700 years ago lend support to the hypothesis that between 2,000 and 1,000 years ago, man may have favored the development, into all regions of France, of animals carrying this particular mtDNA molecule. The origin of such animals has still to be found: animals previously living outside of France or within France but in very restricted areas? This event was concomitant with the documented establishment of warrens after the tenth century A.D. in Europe.

Morphological and molecular phylogenetic characteristics of dwarf <i>Sus</i> specimens from the Noguni shell middens in the Ryukyu Islands

“…This decalcification procedure was repeated until the supernatant became clear. Decalcified bone powders were treated overnight in 5 ml of 0.5 M EDTA with proteinase K (300 μg/ml) and 0.5% N-lauryl sarcosine with slight modifications of the method of Hardy et al (1995). Samples were centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 15 min at RT, and the supernatant containing the ancient DNA (aDNA) was extracted twice with phenol, and once with chloroform to remove proteins.…”

Biometric characterisation and taxonomic considerations of european rabbit Oryctolagus Cuniculus (Linnaeus 1758) in Sicily (Italy)

“…These divergent groups found themselves geographically isolated during the Quaternary iceages, one in the south-west and the other in the north-east of the Iberian Peninsula (Biju-Duval et al, 1991;Branco et al, 2000), before any human interference (Callou, 1995;Hardy et al, 1995), and they came into contact during the last post-glacial period (Branco et al, 2002). According to some authors (Alda et al, 2006;Ferrand, 2008) these 2 groups could correspond to the 2 current subspecies.…”

The helminthfauna ofOryctolagus cuniculus(Linnaeus, 1758) in the Iberian Peninsula. Faunistic and ecological considerations

“…Actually, two subspecies are recognized: O. cuniculus algirus, restricted to the southwestern of the Iberian Peninsula, and O. cuniculus cuniculus in the rest of Spain, Europe and Australia. Both subspecies are genetically differentiated (Monnerot et al, 1994;Ferrand, 1995;Hardy et al, 1995). According to Ferrand (1995) this differentiation happened over the Quaternary glaciations.…”