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Origin and patterns of genetic diversity of German fallow deer as inferred from mitochondrial DNA

European Journal of Wildlife Research volume 58, pages 495–501 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Although not native to Germany, fallow deer (Dama dama) are commonly found today, but their origin as well as the genetic structure of the founding members is still unclear. In order to address these aspects, we sequenced ~400 bp of the mitochondrial d-loop of 365 animals from 22 locations in nine German Federal States. Nine new haplotypes were detected and archived in GenBank. Our data produced evidence for a Turkish origin of the German founders. However, German fallow deer populations have complex patterns of mtDNA variation. In particular, three distinct clusters were identified: Schleswig-Holstein, Brandenburg/Hesse/Rhineland and Saxony/lower Saxony/Mecklenburg/Westphalia/Anhalt. Signatures of recent demographic expansions were found for the latter two. An overall pattern of reduced genetic variation was therefore accompanied by a relatively strong genetic structure, as highlighted by an overall Phict value of 0.74 (P < 0.001).

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Acknowledgements

Collection of samples and all analyses comply with the current laws in Germany. We thank Carla Pinho for proof reading. The authors thank all hunters and their organizations for undertaking sampling. Financial support was given by the Forschungsstelle für Jagdkunde und Wildschadenverhütung of the State North Rhine Westphalia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, 10252, Berlin, Germany

    Arne Ludwig, Dietmar Lieckfeldt & Ella Zoe Lattenkamp

  2. Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany

    Anke Wiethölter

  3. Dept. of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Viote del Monte Bondone, 38040, Trento, Italy

    Cristiano Vernesi

  4. Landesbetrieb Wald und Holz Nordrhein-Westfalen, Forschungsstelle für Jagdkunde und Wildschadenverhütung, Pützchens Chaussee 228, 53229, Bonn, Germany

    Walburga Lutz

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  1. Arne Ludwig
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  2. Cristiano Vernesi
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  3. Dietmar Lieckfeldt
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  4. Ella Zoe Lattenkamp
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  5. Anke Wiethölter
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  6. Walburga Lutz
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Correspondence to Arne Ludwig.

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Communicated by C. Gortázar

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Ludwig, A., Vernesi, C., Lieckfeldt, D. et al. Origin and patterns of genetic diversity of German fallow deer as inferred from mitochondrial DNA. Eur J Wildl Res 58, 495–501 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-011-0571-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-011-0571-5

Keywords

  • Dama
  • Founder
  • Mitochondrial DNA
  • D-loop
  • Roots