Mitochondrial-DNA Variation Within and Among Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) Subspecies

Authors

Allen L. Szalanski, Nebraska Game and Parks CommissionFollow
Kevin E. Church, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
David W. Oates, Nebraska Game and Parks CommissionFollow
Richard Bischof, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Thomas O. Powers, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

2000

Comments

2000. Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences, 26: 47-53. Copyright © 2000 Szalanski, Church, Oates, Bischof and Powers.

Abstract

Genetic variation within and among wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo, subspecies was measured using DNA sequencing and PCR-RFLP analysis of a 655 bp portion of the mtDNA D-loop region. DNA sequencing from 25 individual Eastern, Merriam, Rio Grande and domestic Turkeys revealed 16 polymorphic sites. Parsimony and neighbor-joining analysis did not show support for the four wild Turkey subspecies studied. PCR-RFLP analysis of 118 individuals revealed 13 distinct haplotypes. Haplotype variation was detected in all wild Turkey populations, and Wright's F-statistics revealed pronounced differentiation (F_ST = 0.302) among populations. Based on these data, non-native wild Turkey populations do not appear to have suffered a genetic bottleneck since their reintroduction.