Genetic Structure of Przewalski’s Rock Partridge (Alectoris magna) Populations in the Longzhong Loess Plateau, China

In this paper, we have analyzed the nuclear DNA of Alectoris magna samples, collected from the Longzhong Loess Plateau. We used allelic variation at eight microsatellite markers to describe the genetic structure of A. magna populations. The primary goal of this study was to examine the population genetic structure and determine the extent of population differentiation among populations of A. magna. The average value of H E (0.455) was smaller than H O (0.477), and there was a heterozygote deficit at the MCW135 locus in the Lanzhou population and the Beidao population. The AB063167 locus in each population (except that of Jingyuan) was not in equilibrium (P < 0.05). The Lixian edge population had a lower proportion of genetic diversity than the central geographic populations; the Haiyuan and Jingyuan populations had higher genetic diversity than the central geographic populations. Analysis of population structure revealed clear differentiation among the eight populations of A. magna, suggesting strong isolation of these populations and correspondingly low levels of migration or gene flow. The A. magna populations of Longzhong Loess Plateau are separated into eastern and western populations by a clustering chart. Genetic data indeed suggest that patterns of speciation and population diversification of A. magna in the Longzhong Plateau have been affected by the stability of the climate, natural selection, and human intervention.