Genetic Variability and Differentiation in Wild Boars (Sus scrofa ferus L.): Comparison of Isolated Populations

Abstract

Wild boars ( Sus scrofa ferus L.) from four populations in Austria and their domestic descendant ( Sus scrofa domesticus ) were examined for isoenzyme variability at 42 to 52 enzyme loci by means of horizontal starch gel electrophoresis. The wild boar samples were polymorphic at 22% of their loci and had an average heterozygosity of 0.031, which is among the highest values observed in large mammals. The domestic pigs were polymorphic at 14.6% of their loci and had an average heterozygosity of 0.062. The comparatively high values of average genetic distance found between the isolated wild boar populations ( D = 0.0045) may be the result of founder effects and genetic drift caused by wildlife management.