Abstract Hybridization is a widespread phenomenon,
which plays crucial roles in the speciation of
living beings. However, unnatural mixing of historically
isolated taxa due to human-related activities
has increased in recent decades, favouring levels of
hybridization and introgression that can have important
implications for conservation. The wild redlegged
partridge (Alectoris rufa, Phasianidae) populations
have recently declined and the releases of
farm-reared partridges have become a widespread
management strategy. The native range of the redlegged
is limited to the south-west of Europe (from
Italy to Portugal). This species does not breed in
sympatry with the chukar partridge (A. chukar),
whose range is Eurasian (from Turkey to China).
However, red-legged partridges have often been
hybridized with chukar partridges to increase the
productivity of farmed birds, and game releases may
have spread hybrid birds into the wild. In this study,
we investigated the fitness (survival and breeding)
differences between hybrid and ‘‘pure’’ red-legged
partridges in a wild population located in central
Spain. Incubation probability was similar in hybrids
and ‘‘pure’’ partridges. Hybrid females laid larger
clutches than ‘‘pure’’ ones, but hatching success did
not differ between hybrid and ‘‘pure’’ partridges.
Hybrid birds had lower survival rate than ‘‘pure’’
ones, mainly because of higher predation rates. Our
results show that, despite lower survival, hybrid
partridges breed in natural populations, so this could
increase extinction risk of wild pure partridge populations,
through releases of farmed hybrid birds. The
consequences of continued releases could be of vital
importance for the long term conservation of wild
red-legged partridges.
Abstract Hybridization is a widespread phenomenon,which plays crucial roles in the speciation ofliving beings. However, unnatural mixing of historicallyisolated taxa due to human-related activitieshas increased in recent decades, favouring levels ofhybridization and introgression that can have importantimplications for conservation. The wild redleggedpartridge (Alectoris rufa, Phasianidae) populationshave recently declined and the releases offarm-reared partridges have become a widespreadmanagement strategy. The native range of the redleggedis limited to the south-west of Europe (fromItaly to Portugal). This species does not breed insympatry with the chukar partridge (A. chukar),whose range is Eurasian (from Turkey to China).However, red-legged partridges have often beenhybridized with chukar partridges to increase theproductivity of farmed birds, and game releases mayhave spread hybrid birds into the wild. In this study,we investigated the fitness (survival and breeding)differences between hybrid and ‘‘pure’’ red-leggedpartridges in a wild population located in centralSpain. Incubation probability was similar in hybridsand ‘‘pure’’ partridges. Hybrid females laid largerclutches than ‘‘pure’’ ones, but hatching success didnot differ between hybrid and ‘‘pure’’ partridges.Hybrid birds had lower survival rate than ‘‘pure’’ones, mainly because of higher predation rates. Ourresults show that, despite lower survival, hybrid
partridges breed in natural populations, so this could
increase extinction risk of wild pure partridge populations,
through releases of farmed hybrid birds. The
consequences of continued releases could be of vital
importance for the long term conservation of wild
red-legged partridges.
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