Spatial distribution pattern of genetic diversity in the Larestan sheep and ram population of the Koh Hawa-Tang Khor region (Fars Province): A new approach for regional planning of habitat conservation

Salmanpour, Mohammadali; Parvaresh, Hossein; Ghasemi, Saber; Khatami, Shadi

doi:10.22034/jgeoq.2026.583522.4461

Spatial distribution pattern of genetic diversity in the Larestan sheep and ram population of the Koh Hawa-Tang Khor region (Fars Province): A new approach for regional planning of habitat conservation

Authors

Mohammadali Salmanpour ¹

Hossein Parvaresh ²

Saber Ghasemi ¹

Shadi Khatami ³

¹ Department of Environmental Engineering, BA.C., Islamic Azad University, Bandar Abbas, Iran.

² Department of Environmental Engineering, Bandar Abbas Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bandar Abbas, Iran.

³ Department of Natural Resources, BA.C., Islamic Azad University, Bandar Abbas, Iran.

10.22034/jgeoq.2026.583522.4461

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity and population structure of the Laristan sheep (Ovis orientalis laristanica) within the Kuh-e Hava–Tang-e Khvor No-Hunting Area, covering 86,752 hectares in southeastern Fars Province, Iran. Sampling was conducted in the autumn of 2025 across three sub-regions: Kuh-e Hava, Shanol, and Tabnak, yielding 15 fecal samples and 2 tissue samples. DNA extraction was performed using Bioneer kits, and the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene was amplified using three sets of primers. Although fecal samples exhibited lower quality due to environmental degradation, the use of auxiliary primers significantly enhanced amplification success. Out of 40 initial samples, 36 high-quality sequences (90%) were selected for final analysis, with the highest success rate observed in the Tabnak region (94.1%) and the lowest in the Shanol region (84.6%). Sequence analysis revealed a high A+T content across all populations, with mutation patterns predominantly characterized by transitions, indicating the evolutionary stability of the cytochrome b gene. Phylogenetic results and genetic distance matrices revealed significant differentiation among the populations. The Kuh-e Hava population, with a genetic distance of approximately 0.045, clustered within the Armenian mouflon (Ovis orientalis gmelini) clade. In contrast, the Shanol and Tabnak populations exhibited very close genetic affinity (0.009) and were categorized within the Urial sheep (Ovis vignei) clade.

Keywords

Genetic diversity

Ovis orientalis laristanica

Cytochrome b

Phylogenetic analysis

Kuh-e Hava–Tang-e Khvor