Mitochondrial DNA variation in roe deer population from Lithuania

Abstract

In order to investigate the roe deer population from Lithuania, data on the 457 bp mtDNA control region sequences were analysed. In the samples of 20 roe deer from Lithuania we found 6 different haplotypes, based on 38 variable sites, and observed haplotypes belonged to two haplogroups. Genetic diversity was estimated by haplotype diversity Hd=0.800, nucleotide diversity Pi=0.03031, average number of nucleotide differences k=13.853, and sequence conservation C=0.917. Haplotypes Hap_1 and Hap_2 were the most common in Lithuanian roe deer population. Comparative analysis of the data was performed using homologous mtDNA control region sequences downloaded in GenBank database. Analyses of control region mtDNA sequences indicated widespread introgression of Siberian roe deer (C. pygargus) mtDNA in the European roe deer genome, and introgressed individuals constituted 20% of the deer studied. Phylogenetic findings demonstrated distinction between two clades. Hap_2, Hap_3 and Hap_4 haplotypes were specific in roe deer from Lithuania, Hap_1 and Hap_5 haplotypes were identified in roe deer populations from Russia, and also Hap_5 and Hap_6 were identified in roe deer from Poland.