Genetic biodiversity preservation is the most important requirement to guarantee the survival of a species. All of the Alectoris populations (Aves, Galliformes) that inhabit the Mediterranean Sea, namely the red-legged partridge (A. rufa), the rock partridge (A. graeca), the barbary partridge (A. barbara) and the chukar (A. chukar), are important game species. They are included into the list of the Species of European Conservation Concern (SPEC), due to their vulnerable or even endangered threat status. Naturally occurring hybridisations into the genus Alectoris represent a relatively restricted phenomenon when compared to the widespread, illegal exercise of rising up unnatural, captive-bred hybrid partridges. Unfortunately, these farmed birds are often used without genetic control in restocking activities to counterbalance drawings for hunting purposes, with a strong risk of native, genetic biodiversity loss. The Department of Ethology, Ecology and Evolution of the University of Pisa (Italy) started to work since 2001 to investigate populations from Mediterranean area, to gain insights into the effects of the restocking plans on their genetic structure. Alectoris populations are currently investigated in Spain, Corse (France), Italy, Greece and Cyprus. Molecular techniques such as mitochondrial DNA markers sequencing and Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprinting are applied. This latter, successfully worked for detecting A. rufa x A. graeca as well as A. rufa x A. chukar hybrid partridges, revealing to be a reliable, time-saving, and relatively low-cost technique to unequivocally eradicate not pure birds
Restocking plans and genetic conservation in Mediterranean Alectoris populations
BARBANERA, FILIPPO;GUERRINI, MONICA;DINI, FERNANDO
2004-01-01
Abstract
Genetic biodiversity preservation is the most important requirement to guarantee the survival of a species. All of the Alectoris populations (Aves, Galliformes) that inhabit the Mediterranean Sea, namely the red-legged partridge (A. rufa), the rock partridge (A. graeca), the barbary partridge (A. barbara) and the chukar (A. chukar), are important game species. They are included into the list of the Species of European Conservation Concern (SPEC), due to their vulnerable or even endangered threat status. Naturally occurring hybridisations into the genus Alectoris represent a relatively restricted phenomenon when compared to the widespread, illegal exercise of rising up unnatural, captive-bred hybrid partridges. Unfortunately, these farmed birds are often used without genetic control in restocking activities to counterbalance drawings for hunting purposes, with a strong risk of native, genetic biodiversity loss. The Department of Ethology, Ecology and Evolution of the University of Pisa (Italy) started to work since 2001 to investigate populations from Mediterranean area, to gain insights into the effects of the restocking plans on their genetic structure. Alectoris populations are currently investigated in Spain, Corse (France), Italy, Greece and Cyprus. Molecular techniques such as mitochondrial DNA markers sequencing and Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprinting are applied. This latter, successfully worked for detecting A. rufa x A. graeca as well as A. rufa x A. chukar hybrid partridges, revealing to be a reliable, time-saving, and relatively low-cost technique to unequivocally eradicate not pure birdsI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
