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Genetic diversity and no evidences of recent hybridization in the endemic Italian hare (Lepus corsicanus)

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Abstract

Fragmented populations of the endemic Italian hare (Lepus corsicanus) survive at low density in central and southern Italy, in Sicily and Corsica, where the species was introduced in the sixteenth century. Fragmentation and hybridization with widespread brown hares (L. europaeus), which were introduced outside their natural ranges, may threaten the survival and genetic integrity of the Italian hare. With the exception of a few cases of hybrids identified in Corsica, hybridization was not documented in the Italian hare. In this study, we aimed to assess the genetic diversity in the Italian hare populations and identify possible interspecific hybrids with the brown hare. We genotyped 458 samples belonging to the four species of Lepus distributed in Italy (the mountain hare, the brown hare, the Sardinian hare and the Italian hare) using maternal and biparental markers (mtDNA control-region, 13 autosomal microsatellites, 9 autosomal SNPs). Results confirmed sharp interspecific genetic distinctions among the four species. We did not find interspecific hybrids in Italian hares, with the exception of two cases of L. corsicanus mtDNA introgression in two L. europaeus individuals. The Italian hares in Sicily are genetically distinct, in consequence of long-lasting isolation. Peninsular populations show instances of recent genetic diversification in consequence of anthropogenic fragmentation. Our findings point to consider the conservation of the Sicilian population as a priority, discouraging introductions of exotic hares into the island. Habitat restoration and a net of ecological corridors could help the survival and expansion of threatened L. corsicanus populations in peninsular Italy. Massive releases of brown hares for hunting purposes should be avoided in areas of sympatry with the Italian hares.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge all collaborators who participated in sampling: first of all Valter Trocchi and Francesco Riga (Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale—ISPRA), Egidio Mallia (Parco Regionale di Gallipoli Cognato), Giorgia Romeo (Provincia di Grosseto), Christian Pietri (Fédération Départementale des Chasseurs de Haute-Corse-FDCHC), Alberto Meriggi (Università di Pavia) and all the people who helped us in collecting samples. Special thanks go to the Province of Grosseto for financial support.

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  1. Laboratorio di Genetica, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Via Cà Fornacetta 9, 40064, Ozzano dell’Emilia, BO, Italy

    C. Mengoni, N. Mucci & E. Randi

  2. Department 18/Section of Environmental Engineering, Aalborg University, Sohngårdsholmsvej 57, 9000, Aalborg, Denmark

    E. Randi

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  1. C. Mengoni
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Correspondence to C. Mengoni.

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Mengoni, C., Mucci, N. & Randi, E. Genetic diversity and no evidences of recent hybridization in the endemic Italian hare (Lepus corsicanus). Conserv Genet 16, 477–489 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-014-0674-0

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