IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Nussberger, B. | |
| Detecting introgression is important for wildcat conservation | |
| 2012 S„ugetierkundliche Informationen (45): 319-328 | |
Introgression can cause extinction of taxa. Wildcats (_Felis silvestris silvestris_) are subject to introgression with domestic cats (_Felis silvestris catus_). But does introgression lead wildcats to their genetic extinction? This question is relevant for conservation, at least if wildcats are defined as an evolutionary significant unit and as such worth to be conserved. Today, we do not have sufficient scientific evidence to assess the effect of introgression in wildcats. This is mainly due to the fact that so far neither morphologic nor genetic methods were able to recognize introgressed wildcats. Only by recognizing the actors of a system can we understand the system itself. Our new method using diagnostic SNP markers allows measuring introgression in free living wildcat populations and estimating the extent of introgression as well as better understanding of the mechanisms leading to introgression. Thus, measuring introgression will give more insights into the conservation measures which have - or have not - to be taken for wildcats. Therefore, detecting introgression from domestic cats into wildcats is fundamental for wildcat conservation. |
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