Genetic variability in Portuguese populations of the Iberian hare, Lepus granatensis

We studied genetic variation in 228 individuals of the Iberian hare (Lepus granatensis) from five Portuguese populations, along with representatives o f brown hare (Lepus europaeus) populations from Austria, France, and North East Spain. Twelve protein loci (PEPA, PEPB, PEPC, HBA, HBB, GPI, HP, ALE, GC, ATIII, BF and HPX) were studied by means of conventional electrophoresi s and isoelectric focusing in free and immobilized pH gradients. A rich gen e pool variability in all studied Iberian hare populations is suggested by high values of average expected heterozygosity (H-e=0.15), rate of polymorp hism (P=0.47) and mean number of alleles (A = 1.83). The observed low level of genetic differentiation between regional Iberian hare samples (Fst = 0. 095) suggests a minor effect of geographical distance on the distribution o f genetic diversity and substantial gene flow between populations. Genetic differentiation between L. granatensis and L. europaeus was high and expres sed by: i) several diagnostic loci (PEPA, HBA, HBB, and ALB), ii) differenc es in allele frequencies, and iii) the presence of private alleles.