Genetic Diversity and Phylogeny of Pin-tailed Sandgrouse Pterocles alchata (Linnaeus, 1766) by Sequencing of the Mitochondrial Cytochrome b in Northeast Iran (Case Study: Gomishan)

The Gomishan area of Golestan province holds one of the biggest populations of pin-tailed sandgrouse (Pterocles alchata), which is estimated to reach more than a thousand individuals in the fall and winter. The species inhabits steppe habitats requiring dry, open grassland plains without trees or high bushes. Although this species is declining due to using pesticides, poaching, habitat destruction, and climate change, no studies have yet been conducted on the P. alchata in Iran, and also there is not any genetic and ecological data in relation to this species. In order to achieve basic information about genetic relations among Pin-tailed sandgrouse populations in Northeast Iran, nine tissue samples of Gomishan area were collected. After DNA extraction, nine samples were amplified with polymerase chain reaction, and 912 base pair of mitochondrial cytochrome b was sequenced. As a result of this investigation, it was discovered that the Gomishan population contains three different haplotypes and haplotype diversity was 0.417. The results of Bayesian and Maximum likelihood trees illustrate that all specimens belong to a single clade, but separate completely from P. coronatus and P. namaqua which are only sequences of Pteroclididae in GenBank. This study is starting point of investigations on the P. alchata in the world and it could be resolved the relationships among different populations of Pin-tailed sandgrouse.