TRANSFERRIN POLYMORPHISM OF RED DEER IN FRANCE - EVIDENCE FOR SPATIAL GENETIC MICROSTRUCTURE OF AN AUTOCHTHONOUS HERD

Population genetics of the transferrin polymorphism is analyzed in 549 red deer from mainland France (Vosges, Arc-en-Barrois, Chambord, Allier), and Corsica. Evidence is provided for significant deficiency of heterozygotes, and for allele frequency differentiation between adjacent matrilocal demes of philopatric hinds and offspring red deer from Vosges du Nord. In this autochthonous population, the effective population size (recognizing effects of social and age structure on genetic drift) amounts to 209 per 800 deer. Mean dispersal distances of 2.55 km in females and 19 km in males lead to neighborhood areas of randomly mixing deer which argue against isolation by distance within the study population. Among mainland red deer in France, the fenced herd at Chambord is distinguished by its elevated heterozygosity.