DNA Single Strand Conformation Polymorphisms (SSCP´s) Studies on Spanish Red-Legged Partridges

Abstract

Restocking from captive-reared red-legged partridges ( Alectoris rufa ) is a frequent practice in some Spanish regions, due to the strong decrease of wild populations size in the last years. Chukar partridges ( A. chukar ), which never lived as wild game birds in Spain, are more prolific and efficient meat producers, being legally bred in many Spanish farms to be directly sent to slaughterhouses. Releasing foreign partridges species or hybrids is strictly forbidden by hunting and environment preservation laws. However, eventual hybridization with chukar partridges in breeding farms is a worrying possibility as, in many cases, farms produce birds for both meat and restocking purposes. DNA analyses might be useful to elucidate the genetic purity of wild or farmed partridges. Single Strand Conformation Polymorphisms (SSCP´s) were studied on individual DNA samples from Spanish supposed red-legged and captive chukar partridges. Two mitochondrial (Cytochrome B and D-loop) and one nuclear (Ribosomal DNA-intervening transcribed spacer, ITS) regions were considered for Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) design and further polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The results suggest that these techniques might identify interspecific A. rufa x A. chukar hybrids among wild and captive supposed red-legged partridges by detecting chukar partridge ancestors in their genealogies. On the other hand, these markers showed intra population genetic variability.