Genetic Variability and Differentiation of Large Grazing Mammals

Abstract

Electrophoretic variation at 19 loci was examined in 10 species of even-toed ungulates (Artiodactyla). Mean level of genetic heterozygosity (H̄) and proportion of polymorphic loci (P̄) in large mammals do not differ from the values for mammals in general (H̄ = 0.033 and P̄ = 0.128). Level of genetic variability among species does not appear to be correlated with body size within the large mammals. Large grazing mammals are closely related genetically; all species share at least some electromorphs at some loci. Genetic relationships are in general agreement with most previously accepted systematic relationships, but there are some exceptions. Species of the Cervidae and Antilocapridae are genetically closer than the latter is to the Bovidae even though the Antilocapridae and Bovidae belong to the same superfamily (Bovoidea). Genetic distance and amount of chromosomal rearrangement are correlated in the large grazing mammals. Chromosome rearrangement and accumulation of point mutations are correlated processes in large mammals.