Genetic Variability and Differentiation in Wild Boars (Sus scrofa ferus L.): Comparison of Isolated Populations

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Abstract
Wild boars (Sus scrofa ferus L.) from four populations in Austria and their domestic descendant (Sus scrofa domesticus) were examined for isoenzyme variability at 42 to 52 enzyme loci by means of horizontal starch gel electrophoresis. The wild boar samples were polymorphic at 22% of their loci and had an average heterozygosity of 0.031, which is among the highest values observed in large mammals. The domestic pigs were polymorphic at 14.6% of their loci and had an average heterozygosity of 0.062. The comparatively high values of average genetic distance found between the isolated wild boar populations (D̄ = 0.0045) may be the result of founder effects and genetic drift caused by wildlife management.