Conservation Genetics Area, Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Via Ca' Fornacetta 9, Ozzano dell'Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy.
Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI), University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 18, 50144 Florence, Italy.
Genes (Basel). 2021 Oct 28;12(11):1721. doi: 10.3390/genes12111721.
Strigiformes are affected by a substantial decline mainly caused by habitat loss and destruction, poaching, and trapping. Moreover, the increasing trend in bird trade and the growing interest in wild-caught rather than captive-bred birds are expected to encourage illegal trade. The biomolecular investigation represents a valuable tool to track illegal trade and to explore the genetic variability to preserving biodiversity. Microsatellite loci (STRs) are the most used markers to study genetic variability. Despite the availability of species-specific microsatellite loci in Strigiformes, a unique panel permitting the description of the genetic variability across species has not been identified yet. We tested 32 highly polymorphic microsatellite markers to evaluate the reliability of a unique microsatellite panel in different species of Strigiformes and its use for conservation and forensic purposes. We included in the study 84 individuals belonging to 28 parental groups and 11 species of Strigiformes. After screening polymorphic microsatellite loci, the description of genetic variability, and the kinship assessment, we characterized a final panel of 12 microsatellite loci able to identify individuals in 9 Strigiformes species. This STR panel might support the authorities in the forensic investigation for suspected smugglers and false parental claims; moreover, it can be useful to evaluate relatedness among individuals in captive-bred populations and to implement research projects finalized to the description of the genetic variability in wild populations.
鸮形目鸟类受到栖息地丧失和破坏、偷猎和诱捕等因素的严重影响。此外，鸟类贸易的增长趋势以及对野生而非圈养鸟类的兴趣增加，预计将鼓励非法贸易。生物分子调查是追踪非法贸易和探索遗传变异性以保护生物多样性的宝贵工具。微卫星标记（STRs）是研究遗传变异性最常用的标记。尽管鸮形目鸟类有特定于物种的微卫星标记，但尚未确定一个独特的面板来描述跨物种的遗传变异性。我们测试了 32 个高度多态性的微卫星标记，以评估一个独特的微卫星面板在不同鸮形目物种中的可靠性及其在保护和法医目的中的用途。我们包括 84 个个体，属于 28 个亲代群体和 11 种鸮形目鸟类。在筛选多态性微卫星标记后，我们描述了遗传变异性和亲子关系评估，并确定了一个由 12 个微卫星标记组成的最终面板，能够识别 9 种鸮形目物种中的个体。这个 STR 面板可以为当局提供涉嫌走私者和虚假亲子关系的法医调查支持；此外，它可以用于评估圈养种群中个体之间的亲缘关系，并实施研究项目，以描述野生种群的遗传变异性。
