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

Document Type

Article

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.