Reconstruction of the Major Maternal and Paternal Lineages in the Feral New Zealand Kaimanawa Horses.

ABSTRACT: New Zealand has the fourth largest feral horse population in the world. The Kaimanawas (KHs) are feral horses descended from various domestic horse breeds released into the Kaimanawa ranges in the 19th and 20th centuries. Over time, the population size has fluctuated dramatically due to hunting, large-scale farming and forestry. Currently, the herd is managed by an annual round-up, limiting the number to 300 individuals to protect the native ecosystem. Here, we genotyped 96 KHs for uniparental markers (mitochondrial DNA, Y-chromosome) and assessed their genetic similarity with respect to other domestic horses. We show that at least six maternal and six paternal lineages contributed unequally to the KH gene pool, and today's KH population possibly represents two sub-populations. Our results

SUBMITTER: Sharif MB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9774138 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature