Genetic variability of hares (Lepus europaeus) in the republic of Croatia

Europski ili obični zec (Lepus europaeus) sistematski pripada u carstvo životinje (Animalia), koljeno svitkovci (Chordata), razred sisavci (Mammalia), red dvojezubaca (Lagomorpha), porodica zečeva (Leporidae), rod zec (Lepus) i vrstu L. europaeus. Vrstu je prvi opisao Pallas (1778.). Moderni biološki dokazi pokazuju da njihova specifična linija postoji od prije 90 milijuna godina. Evolucija dvojezubaca (Lagomorpha) se odvijala tokom oligocena i miocena između 35 i 5 milijuna godina prije današnjeg dana. Nastanjuju kontinentalnu Europu do Bliskog istoka i središnje Azije. U novije vrijeme divlji zec je naseljen diljem svijeta: istok Sjeverne Amerike, Južna Amerika, Irska, Australija, Novi Zeland i mnogi otoci. Što se tiče Hrvatske, nastanjuje cijeli kontinentalni dio izuzev najviših planina i nekih otoka. Njihova populacija, prema podatcima s crvene liste ugroženih vrsta, opada kako u Europi tako i u Hrvatskoj. Cilj istraživanja je utvrditi genetsku varijabilnost europskog zeca u Hrvatskoj, te usporediti varijabilnost zeca u Hrvatskoj sa onima u Europi. Varijabilnost se utvrđuje na osnovu ne kodirajuće regije mitohondrijske DNA tj. D-loop ili kontrolne regije. Prema rezultatima istraživanja utvrđen je velik omjer haplotipova u odnosu na broj uzoraka što potvrđuje veliku arijabilnost. Proučavanjem same ne-kodirajuće regije mitohondrijske DNA (kontrolne regije ili D-loop-a) hipoteza o migraciji zečeva se sve više potvrđuje.European or brown hare (Lepus europaeus) pertains systematically to the Kingdom Animalia, phylum Chordata, class Mammalia, order Lagomorpha, family Leporidae, genus Lepus and species L.europaeus. Pallas (1778) was the first to describe the species. Contemporary biological evidence indicate that their specific line has existed for 90 millions of years. The evolution of the Lagomorphs occurred during the Oligocene and Miocene Epoch, between 35 and 5 millions of years prior to this day. They inhabit continental Europe as far as the Middle East and Central Asia. Recently, wild hare has inhabited areas around the world: Eastern North America, South America, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and many islands. As for Croatia, the entire continental part apart from the highest mountains and a few islands has been inhabited. According to the IUCN Red List its population is in decline in Europe as in Croatia. The main aim of this research is to determine genetic variability of European hare in Croatia and compare variability in Croatia with the rest of Europe. Variability is determined on the basis of non-coding mt DNA control region, i.e. D-loop or control region. According to the results of the research a large number of haplotypes has been identified with regard to the number of samples, which confirms high-frequency variability. The hypothesis of hare migrations is constantly being confirmed through studies of non-coding mt DNA control region, i.e. control region or D-loop