Repeated hybridization of two closely related gazelle species (Gazella bennettii and Gazella subgutturosa) in central Iran.

ABSTRACT: Interspecific hybridization increasingly occurs in the course of anthropogenic actions, such as species translocations and introductions, and habitat modifications or occurs in sympatric species due to the shortage of conspecific mates. Compared with anthropogenically caused hybridization, natural hybridization is more difficult to prove, but both play an important role in conservation. In this study, we detected hybridization of two gazelle sister species, Gazella bennettii (adapted to dry areas) and Gazella subgutturosa (adapted to open plains), in five habitat areas, where G. bennettii naturally occur in central Iran. The hybrids have a nuclear genomic identity (based on two introns), habitat preference, and phenotype of G. bennettii, but the mitochondrial id

SUBMITTER: Fadakar D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7593154 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature