Genetic condition of captive-reared population: a case of Grey partridge (Perdix perdix L.)

A decrease of adaptability and lowering of the fitness is frequently observed in small sized populations due to decline of genetic diversity. Such a state is characteristic of grey partridge (Perdix perdix L.) population analyzed in this work. The population was captured from wildlife and placed in breeding. Next, the birds were relocated to another breeding centers. The structure of population numbering 56 individuals was evaluated through the histone H1.c’ polymorphic locus. It was identified in two-dimensional electrophoresis as composed of two isoforms, H1.c'1 and H1.c'2, having varied net charges. In the analyzed population, the isoforms form homozygous phenotype c’1 and c’2 occurring at a frequency 0.32 and 0.68, respectively. A lack of heterozygous and predomination of homozygous individuals evoke population departure from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p < 0.0001). Population display moderate genetic diversity (δT = 0.45), operation of inbreeding (F = 1) and drift (var(p) = 0.047). Such adverse genetic occurrences, evoked by relocation coupled to transportation of the birds, cause stress limiting acclimatization and adaptability to the new rearing conditions. In a consequence, this leads to decrease of resilience and lowering of the fitness and, therefore, to the overall deterioration of the population status.