The Sicilian rock partridge: latest data on genetic integrity from four different relict areas

Sicily (Italy) hosts a "relict", endemic population of the birds Alectoris graeca whitakeri commonly known as Sicilian Rock Partridge. In last decades, due to risk restocking with other European and Asiatic species for hunting purpose, study was carried out investigate potential hybridisation. The mtDNA control-region nuclear microsatellites were genotyped. Due importance species, samples mainly characterized by feather stool samples, rarely carcasses found in environment, from year 2011 2012. A panel 7 microsatellite loci validated. Three multiplexes that allowed simultaneous amplification 3 microsatellites, 2 two total markers, utilized. Results showed occurrence hybridization both towards Middle Eastern A. chukar Northern rufa. 18.5% collected wild environment high degree hybridization. This fact, even if linked small number highlights 4 provinces underlines further investigations understand entity problem.