Columba livia is a wild bird whose domestication has led to a large number of pigeon breeds. The occasional loss or straying of domestic birds determined the origin of feral pigeons, which are now widespread all around the world. In this study, we assumed that the main contribution to feral populations is provided by domestic breeds reared in the same areas. We tested this hypothesis by analysing the variability of 12 microsatellite loci in nine Italian feral populations sampled in areas with different intensities of breeding and selecting domestic breeds. We included in the analysis samples belonging to ten domestic lineages commonly bred in Italy. The pattern of geographic differentiation of feral populations turned out to be rather complex and only partially explained by the geographic distance between populations. This pattern can be understood only when the domestic breeds were included in the analysis. In particular, feral populations located in regions with a long-lasting tradition of pigeon breeding showed a high level of admixture with domestic breeds, in particular with Racing Homer and Piacentino. Ferals from Bolzano, Venice and Sassari were characterized by unique genetic components, mostly not shared by other feral populations and by the considered domestic breeds. Our results further emphasize the complex genetic structure of feral populations whose origin can be properly investigated by taking into account the pool of domestic pigeons bred in the considered area.

中文翻译：

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野鸽种群：它们的基因库以及与当地家养品种的联系

Columba livia 是一种野生鸟类，其驯化导致了大​​量的鸽子品种。家禽偶尔的丢失或迷路决定了野鸽的起源，现在野鸽在世界各地都很普遍。在这项研究中，我们假设对野生种群的主要贡献是由在相同地区饲养的家养品种提供的。我们通过分析在不同繁殖强度和选择国内品种的地区采样的 9 个意大利野生种群中 12 个微卫星位点的变异性来检验这一假设。我们将属于在意大利普遍繁殖的十个国内谱系纳入分析样本。结果证明，野生种群的地理分化模式相当复杂，只能部分由种群之间的地理距离来解释。只有在分析中包括国内品种时，才能理解这种模式。尤其是，位于具有悠久传统鸽育种传统地区的野生种群与国内品种，尤其是赛马荷马和皮亚琴蒂诺，表现出高度的混合。来自博尔扎诺、威尼斯和萨萨里的野生动物具有独特的遗传成分，其他野生种群和被考虑的家养品种大多不具有这些特征。我们的研究结果进一步强调了野生种群的复杂遗传结构，可以通过考虑在所考虑地区饲养的家鸽池来适当调查其起源。位于具有悠久鸽子繁殖传统地区的野生种群表现出与国内品种的高度混合，特别是与赛马荷马和皮亚琴蒂诺。来自博尔扎诺、威尼斯和萨萨里的野生动物具有独特的遗传成分，其他野生种群和被考虑的家养品种大多不具有这些特征。我们的研究结果进一步强调了野生种群的复杂遗传结构，可以通过考虑在所考虑地区饲养的家鸽池来适当调查其起源。位于具有悠久鸽子繁殖传统地区的野生种群表现出与国内品种的高度混合，特别是与赛马荷马和皮亚琴蒂诺。来自博尔扎诺、威尼斯和萨萨里的野生动物具有独特的遗传成分，其他野生种群和被考虑的家养品种大多不具有这些特征。我们的研究结果进一步强调了野生种群的复杂遗传结构，可以通过考虑在所考虑地区饲养的家鸽池来适当调查其起源。