Genetic diversity of the genus Vulpes (Red fox and Fennec fox) in Tunisia based on mitochondrial DNA and noninvasive DNA sampling

Abstract

The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is a highly adaptable omnivorous mammal distributed across all continents on the northern hemisphere. The fennec fox (Vulpes zerda) is widespread in sandy deserts and semi-deserts of North Africa. Although, these two species occupy two different ecosystems in Tunisia, where they play an important ecological role, few studies have examined their mitochondrial DNA variability. Two mitochondrial markers (D-loop and cytochrome b) were used to assess the genetic diversity of the two Vulpes species based on non-invasively collected samples (n = 200). The haplotype diversity (Hd) of the red fox and fennec fox based on a fragment of D-loop was Hd = 0.857 ± 0.012 and Hd = 0.515 ± 0.105, with 16 and 6 haplotypes detected, respectively. Similarly, the analysis of a fragment of cytochrome b (cytb) exhibited higher haplotype diversity for the red fox (Hd = 0.829 ± 0.027) than for the fennec fox (Hd = 0.470 ± 0.112), with 10 and 5 haplotypes detected, respectively. The analysis of both fragments indicated the presence of multiple red fox mitochondrial lineages, but with no clear correspondence to geographical origin. Better understanding of population structure will require analysis of nuclear markers such as microsatellites.