Günther B. Hartl

Genetic diversity in European red deer (Cervus elaphus L.): anthropogenic influences on natural populations

Allozyme, microsatellite and mtDNA (RFLP and sequence) data of European red deer populations were examined as to their capability of indicating anthropogenic influences such as the keeping of animals in enclosures, selective hunting for trophies translocation of specimens to improve trophy quality and habitat fragmentation. Deer in enclosures revealed considerable deviations of allele frequencies from isolation-by-distance expectations but no remarkable loss of genetic diversity. Particular allozyme genotypes were associated with antler morphology, and selective hunting was shown to alter allele frequencies in the expected direction. Habitat fragmentation is reflected by various kinds of genetic markers but due to the lack of information on population histories no unequivocal evidence on particular human activities could be obtained.

Relationships between allozymes, heterozygosity and morphological characters in red deer ( Cervus elaphus ), and the influence of selective hunting on allele frequency distributions

Morphological characters in red deer ( Cervus elaphus), which serve as criteria for selective hunting, were examined in relation to electrophoretic variation in three populations from the Vosges in eastern France. From the polymorphic loci examined, certain alleles at Idh-2, Me-1 and Acp-1 showed significant associations with a special development of body and antler characters selected for by hunters. Idh-2125 was associated with larger hind foot length in females and a higher number of antler points in males. Me-190 and Acp-1100 were associated with small spikes. The populations studied differed from one another in the duration and intensity of selective hunting and the increase or decrease in the respective allele frequencies could be explained by selection for large body size, a high number of antler points and against small spikes in yearlings, rather than by genetic drift. Among other morphological characters examined, the length of the main beam was significantly associated with the allele Acp-2100. In contrast, no associations could be detected between overall heterozygosity and the development or the degree of asymmetry (in paired structures) of any of the morphological traits in question. Although no obvious differences in the overall values of polymorphism or heterozygosity were found between the populations, selective hunting leads towards a change in allele frequencies and eventually to the loss of one or the other rare allele.

Mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite analyses of the genetic status of the presumed subspecies Cervus elaphus montanus (Carpathian red deer).

The possibly distinct Carpathian red deer was compared genetically to other European populations. We screened 120 red deer specimens from Serbia, the Romanian lowland and the Romanian Carpathians for genetic variability using 582 bp of the mitochondrial control region and nine polymorphic nuclear microsatellite loci. The study aimed at a population genetic characterization of the Carpathian red deer, which are often treated as a distinct subspecies (Cervus elaphus montanus). The genetic integrity of the Carpathian populations was confirmed through the haplotype distribution, private alleles and genetic distances. The Carpathian red deer are thus identified as one of the few remaining natural populations of this species, deserving special attention among game and conservation biologists. The history of the populations studied, in particular the introduction of Carpathian red deer into Romanian lowland areas in the 20th century, was reflected by the genetic data.

On the phylogeographic origin of the Corsican red deer (Cervus elaphus corsicanus): evidence from microsatellites and mitochondrial DNA

Summary Five south-European red deer populations from Spain, mainland Italy (Val di Susa and Tarvis), Sardinia and Bulgaria were analysed with regard to microsatellite loci and the mtDNA control region to cast light on the phylogeographic origin of the Corsican red deer which is restricted to Corsica and Sardinia. Whilst according to mtDNA haplotypes Sardinian red deer showed the closest affinity to the Spanish population, microsatellite analyses yielded completely different results in that Sardinia and Spain exhibited the greatest genetic distance whereas Tarvis was the population most closely related to Sardinia. These results are discussed including evidence as to the oldest fossil red deer remains on Sardinia. The latter could play a pivotal role regarding the decision between introduction of red deer on Corsica and Sardinia through humans in Holocene or natural settlement in Upper Pleistocene times.

Molecular biogeography of red deer Cervus elaphus from eastern Europe: insights from mitochondrial DNA sequences.

European red deer are known to show a conspicuous phylogeographic pattern with three distinct mtDNA lineages (western, eastern and North-African/Sardinian). The western lineage, believed to be indicative of a southwestern glacial refuge in Iberia and southern France, nowadays covers large areas of the continent including the British Isles, Scandinavia and parts of central Europe, while the eastern lineage is primarily found in southeast-central Europe, the Carpathians and the Balkans. However, large parts of central Europe and the whole northeast of the continent were not covered by previous analyses. To close this gap, we produced mtDNA control region sequences from more than 500 red deer from Denmark, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine and western Russia and combined our data with sequences available from earlier studies to an overall sample size of almost 1,100. Our results show that the western lineage extends far into the European east and is prominent in all eastern countries except for the Polish Carpathians, Ukraine and Russia where only eastern haplotypes occurred. While the latter may actually reflect the natural northward expansion of the eastern lineage after the last ice age, the present distribution of the western lineage in eastern Europe may in large parts be artificial and a result of translocations and reintroduction of red deer into areas where the species became extinct in historical times.

Biochemical variation in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.): are r-strategists among deer genetically less variable than K-strategists?

Tissue samples from 161 roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) from 5 populations in Austria were screened for allelic variation at 41 presumptive genetic loci by means of horizontal starch gel electrophoresis. The proportion of polymorphic loci ranged from 14·6 per cent to 19·5 per cent, the values for expected average heterozygosity from 3·5 per cent to 7·9 per cent. These values are among the highest ones yet found among deer species. The relationship between biochemical genetic variation, body size and ecological strategy of adaptation is discussed.

Genetic Variability, Differentiation, and Founder Effect in Golden Jackals (Canis aureus) from Serbia as Revealed by Mitochondrial DNA and Nuclear Microsatellite Loci

We analyzed 121 golden jackals (Canis aureus) from six sample sites in Serbia with regard to genetic variability and differentiation as revealed by mitochondrial control region sequences and eight nuclear microsatellite loci. There was no variation at all in the mtDNA sequences, and nuclear variability was very low (average observed and expected heterozygosity of 0.29 and 0.34, respectively). This is in line with the considerable recent range expansion of this species in the Balkans and indicates a strong founder effect in the recently established Serbian population. We did not find evidence of differentiation between the northeastern jackals and those from the plain of Srem or those in between. F-statistics and Bayesian Structure analyses, however, were indicative of a low degree of overall differentiation in the Serbian population. A vagrant Austrian jackal that was also analyzed was genetically indistinguishable from its Serbian conspecifics.

Allozyme and mitochondrial DNA analysis of French red deer (Cervus elaphus) populations: genetic structure and its implications for management and conservation

Summary A total of 472 red deer, Cervus elaphus , from 16 free-ranging populations in France were examined for genetic variability and differentiation at 7 enzyme loci known to be polymorphic in this species. In addiditon, 73 specimens from 14 populations were examined for mtDNA differentiation using 16 six-base cutting restriction enzymes which, on the basis of 69 restriction sites, yielded altogether 5 haplotypes showing a quite variable distribution. Genetic variability within populations was quite similar, especially as far as allozymes are concerned. However, both marker systems revealed considerable genetic differentiation even at a small geographic scale, possibly suggesting that habitat fragmentation has already caused genetic isolation of local populations.

On the biochemical systematics of the Caprini and the Rupicaprini

Abstract In seven species of the Caprini, and two species of the Rupicaprini, 23 proteins encoded by 27 presumptive genetic loci were studied by horizontal starch gel electrophoresis. An antelope, the nilgai ( Boselaphus tragocamelus ) was used as outgroup. Nineteen loci were found to be polymorphic and differential diagnostic, respectively. Phylogenetic trees were constructed using various quantitative and qualitative approaches. The largest genetic distance was detected between Ovis and Capra . The Rupicaprini ( Rupicapra rupicapra, Oreamnos americanus ) turned out to be an intermediate group between Ovis and Capra and are connected to the latter by Hemitragus jemlahicus and Ammotragus lervia . Genetic distances among Capra falconeri, Capra aegagrus and C. a. f. hircus suggest a monophyletic origin of domestic goats from the latter. The high D -value between Capra ibex ibex and C. i. nubiana gives species rank for the Nubian goat. According to biochemical-genetic data the splitting of the Caprinae into the tribes Rupicaprini and Caprini is not justified. Calculated divergence times of the main taxa (late Pliocene-early Pleistocene) correspond to palaeontological findings.

On the biochemical systematics of the Bovini

Abstract ln 10 species of the Bovini, 15 proteins encoded by 15 genetic loci were studied by horizontal starch gel electrophoresis. Five of these loci (Ldh-2, Pgd, Es, Acy-l, Gpi) were found to be polymorphic in at least one of the species examined. The results on the biochemical systematics of the Bovini suggest, that the yak ( Bos mutus ) is most closely related to the cattle ( Bos primigenius ), followed by the gaur ( Bos gaurus ) and the banteng ( Bos javanicus ), which form a separate cluster. The bisons (Bison bison and Bison bonasus) are much more distantly related to the cattle than the yak, the gaur or the banteng. The African buffalo ( Syncerus caffer ) and the anoa ( Subalus depressicornis ), having their branching point somewhat earlier than Bos and Bison , show a remarkable genetic distance from the latter. The extent of genetic variability found within species is discussed with respect to conservation and breeding in captivity.