Genetic variability in Portuguese populations of the Iberian hare, Lepus granatensis

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 1999

Authors

Alves, PC (Author) FCUP; Ferrand, N (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Folia Zoologica

Vol. 48

Pages: 3-10

ISSN: 0139-7893

Publisher: Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 7 Citations

Scopus - 8 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Biological sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-001-5N1

Abstract (EN): We studied genetic variation in 228 individuals of the Iberian hare (Lepus granatensis) from five Portuguese populations, along with representatives of brown hare (Lepus europaeus) populations from Austria, France, and North East Spain. Twelve protein loci (PEPA, PEPB, PEPC, HBA, HBB, GPI, HP, ALE, GC, ATIII, BF and HPX) were studied by means of conventional electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing in free and immobilized pH gradients. A rich gene pool variability in all studied Iberian hare populations is suggested by high values of average expected heterozygosity (H-e=0.15), rate of polymorphism (P=0.47) and mean number of alleles (A = 1.83). The observed low level of genetic differentiation between regional Iberian hare samples (Fst = 0.095) suggests a minor effect of geographical distance on the distribution of genetic diversity and substantial gene flow between populations. Genetic differentiation between L. granatensis and L. europaeus was high and expressed by: i) several diagnostic loci (PEPA, HBA, HBB, and ALB), ii) differences in allele frequencies, and iii) the presence of private alleles.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8