Patterns of genetic variation on wild pig (Sus scrofa) populations over a complete range of the species in Argentina

FIGUEROA C. E.; ACOSTA D.B.; MAC ALLISTER M.; MERELE, M.; FERNÁNDEZ, G. P.; CARPINETTI, B. N.; WINTER, M.; ABATE, S.; BARANDIARAN, S.; MERINO M. L.

MAMMALIA

WALTER DE GRUYTER & CO

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2022

0025-1461

In Argentina, wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are representedby wild boars and feral pigs. These populationsinhabit a wide territory due to natural dispersion and humantranslocation. Previous studies in other countrieshave detected crossbreeding between the different morphotypes,even with domestic pigs. This crossing can leadto introgression of improved traits in the wild population,which would increase the invasive potential and, therefore,the damage to native ecosystems. The aim of thiswork was to obtain the patterns of genetic variabilitythroughout its current distribution in Argentina, in order toelucidate genetic relationships between wild boar and feralpig populations through the molecular marker control region.For this purpose, studies of genetic variability andpopulation structure were carried out using 377 sequencesfrom Argentinian wild pigs. The high values of haplotypeand nucleotide diversity (Hd = 0.866 and π = 0.00959)obtained, and the cluster analyses (SAMOVA and BAPS)could indicate mixing between wild pigs and/or with domesticpigs. The star-like shapes observed in the haplotypenetwork and neutral tests (Fu?s Fs and Tajima?s D) areconsistent with a recent population expansion, supportingprevious reports that indicate crossbreeding increasesinvasive potential.