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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Hered / Genetic diversity in a feral horse population from Sable Isl...
The Journal of heredity2007; 98(6); 594-602; doi: 10.1093/jhered/esm064

Genetic diversity in a feral horse population from Sable Island, Canada.

Abstract: The present-day Sable Island horse population, inhabiting an island off the eastern coast of Canada, is believed to have originated mainly from horses confiscated from the early French settlers in Nova Scotia in the latter half of the 18th century. In 1960, the Sable Island horses were given legal protected status and no human interference has since been allowed. The objective of this study was to characterize the current genetic diversity in Sable Island horses in comparison to 15 other horse breeds commonly found in Canada and 5 Spanish breeds. A total of 145 alleles from 12 microsatellite loci were detected in 1093 horses and 40 donkeys. The average number of alleles per locus ranged from 4.67 in the Sable Island horse population to 8.25 in Appaloosas, whereas the mean observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.626 in the Sable Island population to 0.787 in Asturcons. Various genetic distance estimates and clustering methods did not permit to support that the Sable Island horses originated from shipwrecked Spanish horses, according to a popular anecdote, but closely resemble light draft and multipurpose breeds commonly found in eastern Canada. Based on the Weitzman approach, the loss of the Sable Island horse population to the overall diversity in Canada is comparable or higher than any other horse breed. The Sable Island horse population has diverged enough from other breeds to deserve special attention by conservation interest groups.
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Publication Date: 2007-09-13 PubMed ID: 17855732DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esm064Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research article analyzes the genetic diversity of the Sable Island horse population, a feral population based on an island off the coast of Canada, by comparing it with multiple other Canadian and Spanish horse breeds.

Objective and methodology of the study

  • The main aim of this study was to understand the genetic diversity within the Sable Island horse population and compare this with the diversity of 15 other horse breeds commonly found in Canada, and 5 Spanish breeds.
  • The researchers evaluated genetic attributes from 1093 horses and 40 donkeys, detecting a total of 145 alleles from 12 microsatellite loci.

Findings and comparisons

  • The average number of alleles per locus were discovered to range from 4.67 in the Sable Island population to 8.25 in Appaloosas.
  • Observed heterozygosity values varied between 0.626 for the Sable Island horses to 0.787 in Asturcons.
  • Through these measures, the researchers discerned the Sable Island horse population did not originate from shipwrecked Spanish horses, a widespread anecdote, but there is a closer resemblance with light draft and multipurpose breeds commonly found in eastern Canada.

Implications and conservation status

  • Based on the Weitzman diversity index, the Sable Island horse population represents a significant proportion of Canada’s overall horse diversity, equal to or possibly greater than any other single horse breed.
  • The research highlights that due to their observed genetic divergence, the Sable Island horse population warrants special consideration by wildlife conservation groups.

Cite This Article

APA
Plante Y, Vega-Pla JL, Lucas Z, Colling D, de March B, Buchanan F. (2007). Genetic diversity in a feral horse population from Sable Island, Canada. J Hered, 98(6), 594-602. https://doi.org/10.1093/jhered/esm064

Publication

The Journal of heredity
ISSN: 0022-1503
NlmUniqueID: 0375373
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 98
Issue: 6
Pages: 594-602

Researcher Affiliations

Plante, Yves
  • The Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canadian Animal Genetic Resource Program, Room 6D62, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, Saskatoon, SK, Canada. plantey@agr.gc.ca
Vega-Pla, Jose Luis
    Lucas, Zoe
      Colling, Dave
        de March, Brigitte
          Buchanan, Fiona

            MeSH Terms

            • Animals
            • Animals, Wild / genetics
            • Atlantic Islands
            • Breeding
            • Ecosystem
            • Female
            • Genetic Variation
            • Horses / classification
            • Horses / genetics
            • Male
            • Pedigree
            • Saskatchewan
            • Species Specificity

            Citations

            This article has been cited 13 times.
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            2. Colpitts J, McLoughlin PD, Poissant J. Runs of homozygosity in Sable Island feral horses reveal the genomic consequences of inbreeding and divergence from domestic breeds. BMC Genomics 2022 Jul 12;23(1):501.
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              doi: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2020.02.002pubmed: 32095427google scholar: lookup
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            5. Manning JA, McLoughlin PD. Environmental and demographic drivers of male mating success vary across sequential reproductive episodes in a polygynous breeder. Ecol Evol 2019 May;9(9):5106-5117.
              doi: 10.1002/ece3.5066pubmed: 31110665google scholar: lookup
            6. Ovchinnikov IV, Dahms T, Herauf B, McCann B, Juras R, Castaneda C, Cothran EG. Genetic diversity and origin of the feral horses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. PLoS One 2018;13(8):e0200795.
              doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200795pubmed: 30067807google scholar: lookup
            7. Pirault P, Danvy S, Verrier E, Leroy G. Genetic structure and gene flows within horses: a genealogical study at the french population scale. PLoS One 2013;8(4):e61544.
              doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061544pubmed: 23630596google scholar: lookup
            8. Winton CL, Hegarty MJ, McMahon R, Slavov GT, McEwan NR, Davies-Morel MC, Morgan CM, Powell W, Nash DM. Genetic diversity and phylogenetic analysis of native mountain ponies of Britain and Ireland reveals a novel rare population. Ecol Evol 2013 Apr;3(4):934-47.
              doi: 10.1002/ece3.507pubmed: 23610635google scholar: lookup
            9. Contasti AL, Tissier EJ, Johnstone JF, McLoughlin PD. Explaining spatial heterogeneity in population dynamics and genetics from spatial variation in resources for a large herbivore. PLoS One 2012;7(10):e47858.
              doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0047858pubmed: 23118900google scholar: lookup
            10. Leroy G, Callède L, Verrier E, Mériaux JC, Ricard A, Danchin-Burge C, Rognon X. Genetic diversity of a large set of horse breeds raised in France assessed by microsatellite polymorphism. Genet Sel Evol 2009 Jan 5;41(1):5.
              doi: 10.1186/1297-9686-41-5pubmed: 19284689google scholar: lookup
            11. Duderstadt S, Distl O. Influence of Sires on Population Substructure in Dülmen Wild Horses. Animals (Basel) 2024 Oct 9;14(19).
              doi: 10.3390/ani14192904pubmed: 39409853google scholar: lookup
            12. Duderstadt S, Distl O. Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Dülmen Wild, Liebenthal and Polish Konik Horses in Comparison with Przewalski, Sorraia, German Draught and Riding Horses. Animals (Basel) 2024 Jul 31;14(15).
              doi: 10.3390/ani14152221pubmed: 39123746google scholar: lookup
            13. Mellish MA, Lucas Z, Lancaster L, Stull JW, Floyd A. Visual and morphometric description of feral horse hooves from Sable Island National Park Reserve. Can Vet J 2023 Nov;64(11):1028-1034.
              pubmed: 37915781
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