GENETIC-STRUCTURE OF POPULATIONS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN MOUFLON (OVIS-GMELINI)

Genetic structure of a population of the Mediterranean mouflon (Ovis g melini) in the Caroux-Espinouse Massif of southern France was investig ated using six microsatellite loci. The population was subdivided into home-range groups of females that corresponded to sociospatial units, Males segregated from females outside rut, but they wen: faithful to the unit where they were born during rut. Both sexes were philopatric, A test for population differentiation and F-statistics was used to sh ow that the sociospatial units corresponded to genetically differentia ted units (F-ST = 0.043, P < 0.01), Pairwise comparisons between socio spatial units indicated that the amount of genetic differentiation coi ncided with their geographic distribution. Unexpectedly, no deficienci es in heterozygosity were found in the units. Lack of inbreeding is no t well understood, but mechanisms of avoidance of incest and philopatr y of the mouflon as a spatial attachment rather than a social attachme nt to relatives are discussed.