Iberian red deer: paraphyletic nature at mtDNA but nuclear markers support its genetic identity.

ABSTRACT: Red deer populations in the Iberian glacial refugium were the main source for postglacial recolonization and subspecific radiation in north-western Europe. However, the phylogenetic history of Iberian red deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) and its relationships with northern European populations remain uncertain. Here, we study DNA sequences at the mitochondrial control region along with STR markers for over 680 specimens from all the main red deer populations in Spain and other west European areas. Our results from mitochondrial and genomic DNA show contrasting patterns, likely related to the nature of these types of DNA markers and their specific processes of change over time. The results, taken together, bring support to two distinct, cryptic maternal lineages for Iberian red deer that pr

SUBMITTER: Carranza J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4729781 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature