Detecting hybridization in wild (Coturnix c. coturnix) and domesticated (Coturnix c. japonica) quail populations

Two subspecies of Coturnix coturnix have allopatric distributions in Europe, Maghreb and western Asia (the Common quail C. c. coturnix), and in eastern Asia (the Japanese quail C. c. japonica), except for sympatric breeding areas in the Baikal (Russia) and Kentei (Mongolia) regions, where they could hybridize. Japanese quails have been reproduced in captivity for centuries and domesticated. Massive releasing of Japanese domesticated quails, or hybrids, in west European countries might threaten with hybridization the gene pool of wild quail populations. Here, we used mitochondrial (mtDNA) and nuclear DNA markers (microsatellites), and Bayesian admixture analyses aiming to assess subspecies distinction and identify hybrids in wild and captive-reared quails. A phylogenetic tree identified two major mtDNA clades, corresponding to the two subspecies, and allowed detecting 12 hybrids in wild Common quails sampled in Spain. Additional hybrids were identified in wild quails sampled in Spain, Italy and Senegal using microsatellite markers. Wild quails sampled in Mongolia showed japonica mtDNAs, but their microsatellite genotypes were admixed, suggesting that Common and Japanese quails can hybridize in nature. Some captive-reared stocks of Japanese quails were also admixed. Introgression of domesticated Japanese quail genes in wild Common quail populations might affect the phenotypic expression of functional traits, as body size, feather colours, sexual calls and migratory behaviours. Hence, restocking with captive-reared non-native quails should be banned.     

泉水鱼长江流域3个地理群体的遗传结构分析

水电开发造成的栖息地片段化可能导致鱼类群体间出现生殖隔离,对流域内重要经济和特有鱼类的群体遗传结构产生不利影响。为探究长江流域梯级水电开发可能对泉水鱼(Pseudogyrincheilus procheilus)群体产生的遗传影响,利用线粒体控制区对泉水鱼长江流域的乌江、金沙江、大渡河3个地理群体的遗传结构进行了分析。结果表明,乌江群体的遗传多样性最高,平均核苷酸差异(k)和核苷酸多样性指数(Pi)分别为4.893和0.00668;金沙江群体遗传多样性最小,k和Pi值分别为0.561和0.00077,大渡河群体遗传多样性与乌江群体相近。泉水鱼3个地理群体之间有显著的遗传分化。乌江群体和大渡河群体间的基因流大于金沙江群体和其他2个群体间的基因流,金沙江群体和其他2个群体间有着较远的遗传距离。Fu's Fs检验结果显示,3个地理群体的Fs值均为负值,核苷酸不配对分布均呈现明显的单峰型,揭示了各个泉水鱼群体均经历了明显的群体扩张。研究结果反映出泉水鱼遗传多样性较为丰富,金沙江群体和其他群体间显著的遗传差异可能是由于历史扩张而非自然选择造成的,泉水鱼存在区域化适应的地理群体,可预见梯级水电开发对其遗传结构的影响将十分有限。     

Hybridisation with introduced chukars (Alectoris chukar) threatens the gene pool integrity of native rock (A. graeca) and red-legged (A. rufa) partridge populations

The decline of over-hunted red-legged (Alectoris rufa) and rock (A. graeca) partridge populations has been contrasted with massive releases of captive-reared birds, often hybrids with non-indigenous A. chukar. Released interspecific hybrids raise the risks of introgressive hybridisation, and can contribute to further depress the fitness of native populations. Aiming to assess the extent of hybridisation, we genotyped the mtDNA control-region and eight nuclear microsatellites in 671 red-legged, rock and chukar partridges and hybrids, identified by phenotypic traits. Results reveal a diffuse occurrence of hybridisation: (1) 39 samples (6.2%) show mtDNA haplotypes discordant with their phenotypes, indicating red-legged and chukar mtDNA introgression in native rock partridges; (2) admixture analyses of the microsatellite genotypes identified 32 additional rock partridges (5.1%) hybridised mainly with chukars. We analysed also 39 samples collected from a presumed natural red-legged x rock partridge hybrid zone in the French Alps. Surprisingly, 28% birds showed typical chukar mtDNAs, indicating hybridisation with introduced chukars or hybrids. This hybrid zone led to an introgression cline of chukar alleles into neighbouring Alpine rock partridges detectable up to 100 km, which was shorter than expected by neutral genetic theory, and that suggested natural selection against hybrids. These findings indicate that introgressive hybridisation may disrupt local adaptations in natural red-legged partridge and rock partridge populations, and call for strict control of farming and restocking operations.