Genetic characterization and implications for conservation of the last autochthonous Mouflon population in Europe

Giovanni Giuseppe Leoni,Salvatore Naitana,Valentina Satta,Giovanni Bassu,Laura Manca,Paolo Mereu,Monica Pirastru,Mario Barbato

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-94134-3

Giovanni Giuseppe Leoni, Salvatore Naitana + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-94134-3

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Abstract

Population genetic studies provide accurate information on population structure, connectivity, and hybridization. These are key elements to identify units for conservation and define wildlife management strategies aimed to maintain and restore biodiversity. The Mediterranean island of Sardinia hosts one of the last autochthonous mouflon populations, descending from the wild Neolithic ancestor. The first mouflon arrived in Sardinia ~ 7000 years ago and thrived across the island until the twentieth century, when anthropogenic factors led to population fragmentation. We analysed the three main allopatric Sardinian mouflon sub-populations, namely: the native sub-populations of Montes Forest and Mount Tonneri, and the reintroduced sub-population of Mount Lerno. We investigated the spatial genetic structure of the Sardinian mouflon based on the parallel analysis of 14 highly polymorphic microsatellite loci and mitochondrial D-loop sequences. The Montes Forest sub-population was found to harbour the ancestral haplotype in the phylogeny of European mouflon. We detected high levels of relatedness in all the sub-populations and a mitochondrial signature of hybridization between the Mount Lerno sub-population and domestic sheep. Our findings provide useful insights to protect such an invaluable genetic heritage from the risk of genetic depletion by promoting controlled inter-population exchange and drawing informed repopulation plans sourcing from genetically pure mouflon stocks.

Highlights

Population genetic studies provide accurate information on population structure, connectivity, and hybridization
We highlight the genetic distinctiveness and degree of isolation of the Montes Forest and Mount Tonneri sub-populations. We argue that these sub-populations should be considered as separate management units and preserved from contacts with genetically uncharacterized and known mouflon x sheep hybrid populations, such as the Mount Lerno population
Our study prompts for initiatives to restore the habitat connectivity between Montes Forest and Mount Tonneri and promotes controlled interpopulation exchange in order to improve the overall genetic diversity and counteract the effects of population fragmentation[56,57]

Summary

Introduction

Population genetic studies provide accurate information on population structure, connectivity, and hybridization. The original mouflon-like went back to feral life but gradually disappeared in mainland Europe due to intense hunting and habitat erosion Relics of these ancestral populations survived in the harshest mountainous areas of the Mediterranean islands of Sardinia, Corsica, and Cyprus, where they established populations which survived until n ow[4,5,7,8]. The mouflon distribution is limited to eastern Sardinia (Ogliastra, Gennargentu and Supramonte), including the areas of Mount Tonneri (Seui), Montes Forest (Orgosolo), and Mount Albo (Lula), and a few managed and protected areas where mouflon has been reintroduced This range covers only a limited part of the original species d istribution[16] (Fig. 1). This is often the case for mouflon colonies established for hunting purposes in several European countries, where the practice of human-mediated crossbreeding was used to produce hybrids with increased body size and bigger horns[26]

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