MICROSATELLITE VARIATION IN AN INTRODUCED MOUFLON POPULATION

As previous studies of genetic polymorphism in the mouflon (Ovis gmeli ni) have not provided any valuable markers for population studies, we tested the capacity of microsatellites to index the genetic diversity of a recently introduced mouflon population. Six pairs of bovine prime r amplified microsatellites in mouflon, and ail six were polymorphic. Furthermore, despite the low number of founders, five loci had a high gene diversity in this introduced population. Unlike other genetic mar kers, microsatellites could be powerful to study the genetic structure of mouflon populations.