Genetic Diversity Within and Among Four South European Native Horse Breeds Based on Microsatellite DNA Analysis: Implications for Conservation

• Published in: The Journal of heredity 2005-11, Vol.96 (6), p.670-678
• Main Authors: Solis, A, Jugo, B. M, Mériaux, J. C, Iriondo, M, Mazón, L. I, Aguirre, A. I, Vicario, A, Estomba, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: alleles; Animal reproduction; Animals; Breeding; Burguete breed; Conservation of Natural Resources; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; Equus; Euskal Herriko Mendiko Zaldia breed; Gene Frequency; Genetic diversity; genetic markers; Genetic Variation; heterozygosity; horse breeds; Horses; Horses - genetics; Jaca Navarra breed; Life Sciences; microsatellite repeats; Microsatellite Repeats - genetics; phylogeny; Pottoka breed; Spain; Wildlife conservation
• ISSN: 0022-1503; 1465-7333; 1471-8505
• DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esi123

In the present study, genetic analyses of diversity and differentiation were performed on four Basque-Navarrese semiferal native horse breeds. In total, 417 animals were genotyped for 12 microsatellite markers. Mean heterozygosity was higher than in other horse breeds, surely as a consequence of management. Although the population size of some of these breeds has declined appreciably in the past century, no genetic bottleneck was detected in any of the breeds, possibly because it was not narrow enough to be detectable. In the phylogenetic tree, the Jaca Navarra breed was very similar to the Pottoka, but appeared to stand in an intermediate position between this and the meat breeds. Assuming that Pottoka is the breed less affected by admixture, the others gradually distanced themselves from it through varying influences from outside breeds, among other factors. In a comparative study with other breeds, the French breeds Ardanais, Comtois, and Breton were the closest to the four native breeds. Three different approaches for evaluating the distribution of genetic diversity were applied. The high intrabreed variability of Euskal Herriko Mendiko Zaldia (EHMZ) was pointed out in these analyses. In our opinion, cultural, economic, and scientific factors should also be considered in the management of these horse breeds.