Mitochondrial DNA markers for the study of introgression between the sable and the pine marten

We clarify the contribution of gene introgression in the recovery of the sable Martes zibellina, which has undergone significant population declines by the end of the nineteenth century. To verify the contribution of interspecific gene introgression, variation among the sable and the pine marten Martes martes was investigated utilizing restriction fragment analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene as a genetic markers. Evidence of symmetric introgression of mitochondrial genes between the species was detected. Frequency of marten haplotypes in the sable was 8.3%, while sable haplotype was found in 10% of the martens. The low frequency of mitochondrial DNA haplotype A indicates a comparatively low portion of the Eastern lines in the current sable populations in Western Siberia, despite the introduction of a large number of Eastern sable subspecies. These findings are of great importance for the conservation genetics of the sable. Overhunting of the sable as a more fur valuable species than the pine marten may lead to violation of the dynamic equilibrium between genetic systems of these related species. Mitochondrial markers can be used to identify genetic lines of other species or subspecies in hybrid zones.