Integrated Discriminant Evaluation of Molecular Genetic Markers and Genetic Diversity Parameters of Endangered Balearic Dog Breeds

Abstract

The genetic diversity analysis of six dog breeds, including Ca de Bestiar (CB), Ca de Bou (CBOU), Podenco Ibicenco (PI), Ca Rater (CR), Ca Mè (CM), and Ca de Conills (CC), reveals insightful findings. CB showcases the highest mean number of alleles (6.17) and heterozygosity values, with significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) observed in five markers, indicating high intra-racial genetic diversity (average observed heterozygosity (H_o) = 0.754, expected heterozygosity (H_e) = 0.761). In contrast, CBOU presents the lowest mean number of alleles (5.05) and heterozygosity values, coupled with moderate polymorphic information content (PIC) values and a moderate level of intra-racial genetic diversity (average H_o = 0.313, H_e = 0.394). PI demonstrates moderate genetic diversity with an average of 5.75 alleles and highly informative PIC values, while CR displays robust genetic diversity with an average of 6.61 alleles and deviations from equilibrium, indicating potential risks of inbreeding (average H_o = 0.563, H_e = 0.658). CM exhibits moderate genetic diversity and deviations from equilibrium, similar to CBOU, with an average of 6.5 alleles and moderate PIC values (average H_o = 0.598, H_e = 0.676). Conversely, CC shows a wider range of allelic diversity and deviations from equilibrium (average H_o = 0.611, H_e = 0.706), suggesting a more diverse genetic background. Inter-racial analysis underscores distinct genetic differentiation between breeds, emphasizing the importance of informed breeding decisions and proactive genetic management strategies to preserve diversity, promote breed health, and ensure long-term sustainability across all breeds studied.

Keywords: conservation strategies; genetic diversity; heterozygosity; microsatellite markers; polymorphic information content (PIC).

Figure 5

Balearic dog breeds. (A) Ca de Bou, CBOU; (B) Ca de Bestiar, CB; (C) Ca Eivissenc o Podenco Ibicenco, PI; (D) Ca de Conills Menorquí, CC; (E) Ca de Rater Mallorquí, CR; (F) Ca Mè, CM; and province of their major distribution across the Balearic Islands.

Figure 1

Eigenvalues, discrimination percentages, and cumulative percentages for the revealed set of five discriminant functions (F1 to F5).

Figure 2

Discriminant loadings for genetic diversity parameters and microsatellite markers across discriminant functions from F1 to F5.

Figure 3

Territorial map representing Mahalanobis distances across endangered dog breeds in the Balearic Islands. Ca de Bestiar (CB), Ca Rater (CR), Ca de Bou (CBOU), Ca Mè (CM), Ca de Conills (CC), and Ibicean Hound or Podenco Ibicenco (PI).

Figure 4

Breeds’ prior and posterior classification, membership probabilities, scores, and squared distances. Ca de Bestiar (CB), Ca Rater (CR), Ca de Bou (CBOU), Ca Mè (CM), Ca de Conills (CC), and Ibicean Hound or Podenco Ibicenco (PI).