Abstract
The ever-increasing human-mediated wildlife reshuffling is raising concern for the conservation of biodiversity. The loss of biological distinctiveness among regions lessens the genetic diversity and consequently the evolutionary potential of local biotas to tackle present-day global change and human disturbance. This process may be sometimes cryptic unless investigated by means of a molecular approach. In this respect, game birds are a paradigmatic case. The black francolin (Francolinus francolinus, Phasianidae) is a medium-sized galliform whose distribution range stretches from Cyprus to the Gulf of Bengal. Six morphologic subspecies are known, with three of which occurring in Pakistan, where the species is heavily hunted and used as pet for chirping competitions. We genotyped 98 samples (feathers) at both the entire mitochondrial DNA Control Region gene and nine microsatellite loci to get a deeper insight into the genetic diversity of the black francolin in Pakistan in order to offer cogent recommendations for its conservation management. We identified several mtDNA lineages that were consistent with the currently described subspecies/taxonomy whose pattern of co-occurrence is compatible with the geological history and the faunal movement routes of the region under study. However, the biparentally inherited microsatellites returned a quite discordant picture of an extensive, sex-biased genetic mixing due to the intensive relocations of already overharvested male individuals for chirping competitions. Our results indicated that the genetic integrity of the black francolin in Pakistan could be seriously at risk and call for monitoring and limiting its trade other than enhancing the public awareness of the importance of local biodiversity resources.
Highlights
Since the Bronze Age, human activities have been shaping the distribution of a variety of taxa with an increasing movement of faunal and floral assemblages worldwide [1]
Natural and artificial breeding have enabled massive wildlife relocations either for harvesting purposes or for sustaining populations of non-game species. This impressive rate of wildlife relocation is raising increasing conservation concern, as the consequential reshuffling may affect taxa in the wild to such an extent that it results into the “loss of biological distinctiveness among regions following the replacement of native biotas by locally expanding non-natives” [2]
Between 2008 and 2014, 98 samples of wild black francolins were collected in Pakistan (North: N = 21; Central: N = 55; South: N = 22) from 25 populations ranging from the Indian Ocean across the Indus River valleys to the foothills of the Himalayas
Summary
Since the Bronze Age, human activities have been shaping the distribution of a variety of taxa with an increasing movement of faunal and floral assemblages worldwide [1]. Natural and artificial breeding have enabled massive wildlife relocations either for harvesting purposes (hunting, fishing) or for sustaining populations of non-game species This impressive rate of wildlife relocation is raising increasing conservation concern, as the consequential reshuffling may affect taxa in the wild to such an extent that it results into the “loss of biological distinctiveness among regions following the replacement of native biotas by locally expanding non-natives” [2]. This phenomenon can eventually impair the delivery of supporting ecosystem services, of which genetic diversity is sometimes referred to as the most fundamental [3]. Game birds are a paradigmatic case [11] and Phasianidae one of the most problematic groups [12,13,14,15,16]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
