Phylogeography of the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in the Iberian Peninsula inferred from RFLP analysis of the cytochrome b gene

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2000

Authors

branco, m (Author) Other; ferrand, n (Author) FCUP; Monnerot, M (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Heredity

Vol. 85

Pages: 307-317

ISSN: 0018-067X

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 94 Citations

Scopus - 88 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-000-YVG

DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2540.2000.00756.x

Abstract (EN): We studied mitochondrial DNA variation in the European rabbit through the examination of restriction fragment length polymorphism in 526 individuals from 20 locations spread across the Iberian Peninsula. Digestion with eight enzymes of a 1120-bp fragment comprising most of the cytochrome b gene resolved 38 different haplotypes. These haplotypes were distributed in two highly divergent clades, with different but overlapping geographical distributions, and with comparable levels of within-clade variation. The overall phylogeographical pattern suggests a history of long-term regional isolation of two groups of rabbit populations, compatible with the recognition of two subspecies within the Iberian Peninsula, followed by recent contact and admixture. The underlying cause is sought in the alternation of glacial and interglacial periods in the late Pleistocene.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11