The genetic diversity of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in Golestan and Mazandaran provinces by sequencing mitochondrial D-loop

Document Type : Biodiversity

Authors

1 Department of Environment, Department of Energy and Environment, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, POBox: 775-14515

2 Department of Environment, Department of Fisheries and Environment, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, PO Box: 15739-49138

3 Department of Environment, Department of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, POBox: 1841

Abstract

Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) is the smallest member of deer family (Cervidae) in Iran. This deer includes two different species in the world: European-Asian roe deer (C. capreolus) and Siberian roe deer (C. pygargus) which are different morphologically. In Iran, this species mainly lives in forest regions with relatively dense cover, young forests, and the forests between plains and mountain regions. The purpose of this study was to recognize the genetic diversity of Iranian roe deer in studied regions by mitochondrial D-loop gene and its application to conservation programs. Eight samples were collected in Mazandaran and Golestan Provinces. After DNA extraction from samples of muscle tissue and feces, horns, a part of control region of mitochondrial DNA in length 366 base pairs using a universal primer was replicated. The genetic distance and haplotype diversity of obtained sequences was investigated using MEGA 5 and DNASP 5 Softwares. Based on the results, three haplotypes and three polymorphisms were recognized. These results illustrate the connection between these populations. The genetic distance of the populations of two Provinces was low and in point of conservation view, the connection between them must be continued.

Keywords

Journal of Animal Environment
Volume 9, Issue 1
April 2017
Pages 49-56

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