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Abstract

Summary - The relationships between 10 Spanish dog breeds have been studied using qualitative and quantitative analyses of data from 32 morphological characters. The average distance between breeds, measured as a morphological index, has a value of 4.228 (! 0.681), with extreme values of 1.732 between Mastin del Pirineo and Mastin Espanol, and of 5.099 for the Gos d’Atura - Sabueso Espanol pair. The morphological phylogeny obtained in this study confirms the classifications made previously by means of dental, cranial, historical and behavioral comparative criteria. The results suggest the formation of 2 large clusters; one formed by the breeds belonging to the ancestral trunks Canis fa7rciliaris intermedius and Canis familiaris inostranzewi, and the other which includes the members of the Canis familiaris leineri and Canis familiaris metris-optirrtae trunks. Spanish dog breeds / genetic distance / morphological character / dendrogram /
Original
article
Genetic
relationships
in
Spanish
dog
breeds.
I.
The
analysis
of
morphological
characters
J
Jordana
J
Piedrafita,
A
Sanchez
Universitat
Aut6noma
de
Barcelona,
Unitat
de
Genètica
i
Millora
Animal,
Departament
de
Patologia
i de
Producci6
Animals,
Facultat
de
Veterindria,
08193-Bellaterra,
Barcelona,
Spain
(Received
27
July
1990;
accepted
19
December
1992)
Summary -
The
relationships
between
10
Spanish
dog
breeds
have
been
studied
using
qualitative
and
quantitative
analyses
of
data
from
32
morphological
characters.
The
average
distance
between
breeds,
measured
as
a
morphological
index,
has
a
value
of
4.228
(!
0.681),
with
extreme
values
of
1.732
between
Mastin
del
Pirineo
and
Mastin
Espanol,
and
of
5.099
for
the
Gos
d’Atura -
Sabueso
Espanol
pair.
The
morphological
phylogeny
obtained
in
this
study
confirms
the
classifications
made
previously
by
means
of
dental,
cranial,
historical
and
behavioral
comparative
criteria.
The
results
suggest
the
formation
of
2
large
clusters;
one
formed
by
the
breeds
belonging
to
the
ancestral
trunks
Canis
fa7rciliaris
intermedius
and
Canis
familiaris
inostranzewi,
and
the
other
which
includes
the
members
of
the
Canis
familiaris
leineri
and
Canis
familiaris
metris-optirrtae
trunks.
Spanish
dog
breeds
/
genetic
distance
/
morphological
character
/
dendrogram
/
morphological
analysis
Résumé -
Relations
génétiques
entre
des
races
canines
espagnoles.
I.
Analyse
des
caractères
morphologiques.
À
partir
de
l’analyse
qualitative
et
quantitative
des
données
provenant
de
3!
caractères
morphologiques,
on
a
étudié
les
relations
existant
entre
10
races
canines
espagnoles.
La
distance
moyenne
entre
races,
mesurée
par
un
indice
de
distance
morphologique,
prend
une
valeur
de
4,228
(::1::
0,681),
avec
des
valeurs
extrêmes
de
1,7.i2
entre
Mastin
del
Pirineo
et
Mastin
Espanol,
et
5,099
pour
le
couple
Gos
d’Atura -
Sabueso
Espanol.
La
phylogénie
morphologique
obtenue
dans
ce
travail,
confirme
les
classifications
précédentes,
réalisées
à
partir
de
critères
comparatifs
dentaires,
crâniens,
historiques
et
comportementaux.
Les
résultats
suggèrent
la
formation
de
deux
grands
groupes.
L’un
comprend
les
races
qui
appartiennent
aux
troncs
ancestraux
du
Canis
familiaris
intermedius
et
du
Canis
familiaris
inostranzewi,
et
l’autre
serait
formé
par
les
composants
des
troncs
du
Canis
familiaris
leineri
et
du
Canis
familiaris
metris-optimae.
races
canines
espagnoles
/
distance
génétique
/
caractère
morphologique
/
dendro-
gramme
/
analyse
morphologique
INTRODUCTION
Archaeological
studies
show
the
existence
of
differences
within
populations
of
prehistoric
dogs
in
the
same
area.
These
studies
also
show
that
there
were
already
distinguishable
and
separated
classes
of
dogs
about
5
000
years
ago
(Villemont
et
al,
1970).
Two
main
factors
have
determined
the
differentiation
of
canine
breeds:
natural
selection
in
the
environment
and
conscious
selection
by
man.
The
length
of
time
from
prehistoric
times
to
the
present
and
the
number
of
generations
elapsed
explain
the
proliferation
of
canine
breeds.
Added
to
this
has
been
the
modern
tendency
of
selective
breeding
to
produce
specialist
and
distinguishable
breeds,
with
strict
definitions
of
desirable
and
undesirable
traits
for
each
breed.
Man
first
began
to
influence
the
classes
of
canines
when
he
began
to
adapt
them
to
his
needs.
Sheep
farming,
extensive
throughout
Eurasia,
created
the
need
for
gentle,
intelligent
animals
which
would
respond
to
orders
from
the
shepherd
and
help
manage
the
flock.
Dogs
were
adapted
for
defence:
here
the
desired
traits
were
fierceness,
toughness
and
suspicion
of
strangers.
Dogs
were
also
used
for
hunting:
some
would
have
to
be
very
fast
to
catch
their
prey,
others
would
track
and
flush
the
prey
and
others
would
retrieve
the
dead
prey.
Each
had
a
specialist
task.
Finally,
a
general
category
of
dogs
served
for
defence,
for
company
or
merely
for
decoration.
The
first
known
classification
of
dogs
dates
from
1486
and
is
found
in
the
St
Albar!s’
Book,
attributed
to
Juliana
Barnes,
prioress
of
the
convent
of
Sopwell,
England
(Peters,
1969).
But
the
systematic
classification
of
different
dog
breeds
began
to
have
greater
importance
at
the
end
of
the
19th
century
with
the
creation
of
the
Kennel
Clubs
in
England
and
North
America.
Despite
the
huge
difficulties
involved
in
the
reconstruction
of
the
phylogenies
of
the
more
than
400
dog
breeds
currently
recognized,
the
systematic
classification
into
groups,
as
closely
related
as
possible,
as
well
as
the
search
for
their
phylogenic
relationships
has
been
an
uninterrupted
task.
There
have
been
studies
based
on
archaeological
findings
(Olsen
and
Olsen,
1977;
Clutton-Brock,
1984),
historical
studies
(Gomez-Toldra,
1985),
cranial,
dental
and
skeletal
morphology
(Clutton-
Brock
et
al,
1976;
Wayne,
1986),
comparative
studies
of
behaviour
(Scott,
1968),
and
immunological
and
electrophoretic
studies
of
proteins
and
blood
enzymes
(Leone
and
Anthony,
1966;
Tanabe
et
al,
1974).
Although
part
of
the
variation
observed
among
morphological
traits
may
have
an
environmental
component,
in
general,
the
heritability
values
for
morphological
traits
are
relatively
high.
The
differences
observed
among
breeds
therefore
should
be
good
indicators
of
the
genetic
relationships
among
them.
So
far,
however,
no
studies
have
been
published
on
the
genetic
relationships
between
Spanish
dog
breeds
from
the
analyses
of
morphological
characters.
Since
statistical
methods
and
computing
packages
are
available
to
perform
such
analyses
(Felsenstein,
1986;
Swofford,
1991),
the
present
paper
is
a
contribution
to
the
study
of
the
genetic
relationships
between
Spanish
canids
from
qualitative
and
quantitative
analyses
of
data
on
morphological
characters.
MATERIALS
AND
METHODS
Breeds
studied
We
have
studied
9
Spanish
dog
breeds
recognized
by
the
Federation
Cynologique
Internationale
(FCI):
Gos
d’Atura,
Mastin
del
Pirineo,
Mastin
Espanol,
Perdiguero
de
Burgos,
Galgo
Espanol,
Sabueso
Espanol,
Ca
de
Bestiar,
Podenco
Ibicenco
and
Podenco
Canario,
and
a
tenth
breed
not
yet
recognized,
Podenco
Ib6rico.
The
geographical
distribution
of
the
original
breeds
is
shown
in
figure
1.
There
are
several
existing
hypotheses
about
their
origin
(Jordana
et
al,
1990),
which
we
summarize
in
the
following
way:
Gos
d’Atura
(Catalonian
Sheepdog)
or
Perro
de
Pastor
Catalin
Andreu
(1984)
points
out
that
the
Romans
took
and
ancient
Shepherd
dog
on
their
campaigns,
which
could
have
been
the
Bergamasco.
This
dog
was
adapted
to
the
different
climatic
environments
and
types
of
shepherding,
and
was
the
basis
of
a
large
number
of
breeds
existing
today
in
Central
Europe.
Gomez-Toldra
(1985)
and
Delalix
(1986)
agree
with
the
opinion
of
the
Roman
origin
of
the
Gos
d’Atura
breed,
and
placed
the
origin
of
the
Bergamasco
in
the
Polish
Shepherd
dogs,
which
might
have
descended
from
the
old
Eastern
Shepherds.
Mastin
Espanol
and,-Mastin
del
Pirinea.
(Spanish
Mastiff
and
Pyrenean
Mastiff)
These
are
breeds
included
in
the
&dquo;ortognated
moloses&dquo;
which
seem
to
descend
from
the
legendary
Mastiff
of
Tibet
(in
central
Asia).
These
dogs
are
supposed
to
have
reached
Spain
by
2
routes:
the
Central
European
route
and
via
the
Mediterranean
(Esquir6,
1982).
Perdiguero
de
Burgos
(Burgos
Pointer)
This
breed
probably
originated
from
matings
between
the
Sabueso
Espafiol
and
the
short-coated
Pachones
from
Navarra
(Sanz
Timón,
1982;
Rousselet-Blanc,
1983;
Gomez-Toldra,
1985;
Delalix,
1986).
These
Pachones
from
Navarra,
also
called
Perros
de
Punta
Ib4ricos,
are
the
ancestors
of
the
current
English
Pointer
(Rousselet-Blanc,
1983;
Sotillo
and
Serrano,
1985).
Sabueso
Espanol
(Spanish
Bloodhound)
Several
authors
(Villemont
et
al,
1970;
Gondrexon
and
Browne,
1982;
Rousselet-
Blanc,
1983;
Gomez-Toldra,
1985)
have
attributed
a
Celtic
origin
to
the
Blood-
hounds.
Most
of
the
European
Bloodhound
breeds
seem
to
descend
from
the
Saint
Hubert,
a
modern-day
Belgian
breed,
the
direct
descendant
of
the
Segusius
of
the
Celts
and
the
Gauls,
which
the
Greek
historian
Arrian
of
Nicomedia
talks
about
in
his
Cinegetics
(Villemont
et
al,
1970;
Rousselet-Blanc,
1983).
Ca
de
Bestiar
(Balearic
Sheepdog):
also
called
Perro
de
Pastor
Mallorquin
and
Ca
Garriguer
The
FCI
includes
this
breed
in
the
second
group,
within
the
molosoid
breeds,
together
with
the
Boxer
and
the
Dogo
among
others.
Several
authors
(Guasp,
1982;
Sotillo
and
Serrano,
1985;
Delalix,
1986)
agree
that
the
origin
of
this
breed
seems
to
be
the
result
of
crossing
between
Podencos
Ibicencos,
Perdigueros
(Ca
NIe)
and
Mastiffs.
Galgo
Espanol
(Spanish
Greyhound)
For
some
authors
(Villemont
et
al,
1970;
Sotillo
and
Serrano,
1985)
the
English
Greyhound
and
the
Galgo
Espafiol
are
descendants
of
the
Arabian
Sloughi,
brought
to
Europe
via
Spain
during
the
Moslem
invasion.
Another
hypothesis
(Rousselet-
Blanc,
1983)
supports
the
idea
that
the
Galgo
was
brought
to
Western
Europe
by
the
ancient
Celts
when
they
settled
down
in
Gaul.
Nevertheless,
the
same
author
points
out
a
second
contribution
of
blood
from
the
Sloughi.
Podenco
Ibicenco
(Ibizan
Hound):
also
known
as
Ca
Eivissenc,
Xarnelo,
Lebrel
de
Mallorca,
Mallorqui
or
Charneque
It
is
generally
accepted
that
the
Podenco
Ibincenco
breed
descends
from
the
Dog
of
the
Pharaohs
(Villemont
et
al,
1970;
Nlora,
1982;
Gondrexon
and
Browne,
1982;
Rousselet-Blanc,
1983;
G6mez-Toldrh,
1985)
and
that
it
was
brought
to
Ibiza
by
the
Phoenicians
(Pugnetti,
1981;
Maza,
1982;
Delalix,
1986),
even
though
other
hypotheses
state
that
it
arrived
much
later,
with
the
Moslems,
at
the
same
time
as
the
Galgo
(Villemont
et
al,
1970;
Rousselet-Blanc,
1983).
Podenco
Canario
(Canary
Hound)
Certain
hypotheses
(Delalix,
1986)
suppose
that
this
hunter
came
from
Egypt
and
that
it
was
taken
to
the
Canary
Islands,
probably
by
the
Phoenicians,
Greeks,
Carthaginians
or
even
by
the
Egyptians,
but
it
is
possible
that
Majorcan
monks,
forced
to
emigrate
to
these
islands
by
the
Vatican,
introduced
these
dogs
(Anonymous,
1982).
Podenco
Ib6rico
(Iberian
Hound):
also
known
as
Podenco
Espanol,
Podenco
Andaluz,
Podenco
Ib6rico
Andaluz
Malagueno
and
Campanero
The
Podenco
Ib6rico
is
a
recent
product
obtained
by
crossing
the
Podenco
Rondeno
from
Andalusia
with
the
Podenco
Ibicenco
(Garcia
et
al,
1982).
Qualitative
and
quantitative
analyses
In
an
ideal
specimen
of
each
of
10
Spanish
dog
breeds,
a
total
of
32
characters
have
been
studied.
Some
of
the
characters
were
established
by
the
official
standards
of
the
breed
while
the
other
characters
came
from
data
of
a
review
(Avila,
1982;
I
Symposium
Nacional
de
las
Razas
Caninas
Espanolas,
1982;
Gomez-Toldra,
1985 ;
Sotillo
and
Serrano,
1985;
Delalix,
1986).
The
numbers
were
assigned
to
each
state
of
the
different
characters
in
an
arbitrary
manner.
These
numbers
did
not
represent
any
specific
weighting
of
the
state.
The
number
of
states
for
each
character
was
established
depending
upon
the
number
of
distinguishable
phenotypic
classes.
The
characters
used
and
their
states
are
shown
in
table
I.
Qualitative
analysis
For
the
qualitative
analysis,
discrete
characters
were
recoded
into
a
series
of
(0, 1)
2-state
characters,
denoting
absence
or
presence
of the
character,
respectively.
Continuous
quantitative
characters
(D
and
E
characters
in
table
I)
may
be
divided
into
a
small
number
of
classes,
each
representing
one
of
the
states
of
the
character
in
the
data
matrix.
For
recoding
a
character
with
several
states
we
have
used
the
following
transformations
(Sneath
and
Soka,
1973) :
and
so
on.
The
original
and
recoded
matrices
of
morphological
resemblances
are
shown
in
tables
II
and
III
respectively.
The
MIX
program
of
the
phylogeny
inference
package
(PHYLIP)
(Felsenstein,
1986)
was
used
to
construct
the
dendogram
of
Spanish
breeds
of
dogs
from
qualitative
data
of
morphological
characters.
This
analysis
is
based
upon
the
&dquo;parsimony&dquo;
principle,
and
the
criterion
is
to
find
the
tree
requiring
the
minimum
number
of
changes.
Two
dendrograms
can
be
obtained:
the
first,
using
Wagner
parsimony
(Farris,
1970),
is
used
when
the
ancestral
state
of
the
character
is
unknown;
the
second,
using
Camin
and
Sokal’s
method
(1965),
presupposes
the
knowledge
of
the
ancestrality.
Several
possible
criteria
have
been
proposed
to
infer
the
ancestral
state
of the
character:
the
fossil
record,
the
frequency
criterion
and
outgroup
analysis
(Avise,
1983).
Each
of
these
criteria
has
been
seriously
and
justifiably
criticized
(Stevens,
1980),
although
it
has
been
recognized
that
the
outgroup
analysis
provides
a
particulary
compelling
rationale
for
estimating
the
character
state
polarity
(in
our
case,
for
example,
the
wolf,
Canis
lupus).
We
have
chosen,
however,
the
frequency
criterion
(the
state
of
the
character
appearing
most
frequently
in
the
group
being
examined)
in
order
to
make
comparisons
between
these
dendrograms
and
those
obtained
in
a
second
study
(Jordana
et
al,
1992)
on
the
phylogenetic
relationships
among
Spanish
dog
breeds
derived
from
the
analysis
of
biochemical
polymorphisms.
The
reason
for
choosing
the
frequency
criterion
was
the
lack of
adequate
literature
on
electrophoretic
results
of
any
species
of
wolf
candidate
to
be
used
as
an
outgroup.
The
tree
generated
by
Wagner
parsimony
is
unrooted,
so
we
chose
arbitrarily
the
Galgo
Espanol
breed
as
an
outgroup
in
order
to
make
comparisons
with
other
dendrograms.
An
evolutionary
tree
generated
by
a
parsimony
criterion
was
also
computed
using
the
phylogenetic
analysis
using
parsimony
computer
package
(PAUP)
(Swof
ford,
1991).
The
resulting
tree
was
rooted
and
the
midpoint
rooting
method
(Farris,
1972)
was
chosen
to
give
the
tree
an
evolutionary
direction.
The
PAUP
package
allows
us
also
to
compute
the
confidence
limits
of
the
topology
by
means
of
a
boot-
strap
analysis
(Efron,
1979),
adapted
to
the
inference
of
phylogenies
(Felsenstein,
1985).
One
hundred
bootstrap
replicates
were
made,
and
a
consensus
tree
was
ob-
tained
based
upon
the
majority-rule
method
(Margush
and
McMorris,
1981).
The
minimum
frequency
of the
bootstrap
replicates-
in
which
a
group-
is-
supported
in
order
to
be
included
in
the
bootstrap
consensus
tree
was
set
to
50
(Conlevel
=
50).
Quantitative
analysis
For
the
quantitative
analysis
of
morphological
characters,
qualitative
data
were
transformed
and
introduced
in
the
form
of
a
matrix
of
distances.
An
Euclidean
dis-
tance
(Sneath
and
Sokal,
1973)
was
used
to
estimate
distances
between
populations,
under
the
assumption
of
independence
between
characters.
where:
d!!,!!
=
value
of
the
distance
between
the j
and
the
breed
k.
The
distance
ranges
from
0
to
fl,
where
n
is
the
number
of
traits;
(J!,j —
Xi
k)
=
alternative
values
(0,
1)
for
the
differences
between j
and
k
breeds
within
the
character
i.
The
mean
character
difference
(MCD)
proposed
by
Cain
and
Harrison
(1958)
was
also
calculated
as
a
measure
of
taxonomic
resemblance.
MCD
varies
between
0 and 1.
Fitch
and
Margoliash’s
method
(1967)
was
used
to
find
the
unrooted
tree
that
would
best
adapt
to
the
matrix
(FITCH
program
in
PHYLIP
package).
The
tree
that
minimizes
the
sum
of
squares
SS
was
searched
for
by
means
of
the
following
expression:
&dquo;
where:
D
jk
=
observed
distance
between
populations j
and
k;
d
jk
=
expected
distance
between
populations j
and
k,
computed
as
the
addition
of
tree
segment
lengths,
from
population j
to
population
k
(patristic
distance).
Alternatively,
a
rooted
tree
was
computed
by
applying
the
KITSCH
program
(PHYLIP
package).
In
this
method,
a
tree
similar
to
that
generated
by
the
cluster
analysis
was
computed
and
subsequently
the
topology
of
the
tree
was
altered
in
order
to
improve
its
goodness-of-fit.
By
assuming:
a),
that
the
expected
rates
of
change
are
constant
through
all
lines;
b),
that
all
the
subpopulations
are
contemporary;
and
c),
that
the
phenotypes
behave
as
an
evolutionary
clock,
this
method
can
be
regarded
as
an
estimator
of
the
phylogeny
(Felsenstein,
1984,
198G).
RESULTS
Qualitative
analysis
The
dendrograms
resulting
from
the
application
of
Wagner
parsimony
and
Camin
and
Sokal’s
methods
are
shown
in
figures
2
and
3
respectively.
Two
large
groups
can
be
observed
in
each
tree.
One
of
the
groups
is
formed
by
4
breeds:
Mastin
del
Pirineo,
Mastin
Espanol,
Sabueso
Espanol
and
Perdiguero
de
Burgos;
the
other
group
includes
Podenco
Ibicenco,
Podenco
Canario,
Podenco
Ib6rico
and
Galgo
Espanol.
In
the
dendrogram
resulting
from
Wagner
parsimony,
the
breeds
Ca
de
Bestiar
and
Gos
d’Atura
are
halfway
between
the
2
large
groups,
even
though
Gos
d’Atura
is
nearer
the
greyhound
group
(Podencos
and
Galgo)
and
Ca
de
Bestiar
is
nearer
the
other
group.
The
closeness
of
Gos
d’Atura
and
Ca
de
Bestiar
breeds
to
one
group
or
the
other
is
more
evident
in
the
three
resulting
from
the
application
of
Camin
and
Sokal’s
method.
Gos
d’Atura
is
placed
halfway
between
2
subgroups
formed
by
Podenco
Ibicenco-Podenco
Canario
and
Podenco
lb6rico-Galgo
Espanol
breeds.
The
Ca
de
Bestiar
breed
is
more
closely
related
to
the
Mastiffs
than
to
the
subgroup
formed
by
Sabueso
Espafiol
and
Perdiguero
de
Burgos.
Both
topologies
are
possible,
even
though
the
tree
obtained
by
applying
Wagner
parsimony
needed
only
96
steps
to
rearrange
the
characters
and
to
obtain
the
most
parsimonious
tree,
while
for
the
tree
generated
by
Camin
and
Sokal’s
method,
101
steps
were
needed.
This
difference
in
the
number
of
steps,
however,
probably
reflects
the
differences
in
the
assumptions
of
the
kinds
of
changes
used
in
both
methods
(Felsenstein,
1986),
and
consequently
cannot
be
considered
as
a
definitive
criterion
to
infer
the
true
relationships.
Figure
4
shows
a
dendrogram
of
the
Spanish
dog
breeds
estimated
according
to
the
parsimony
and
midpoint
rooting
criteria
(PAUP
package).
This
dendrogram
again
shows
the
2
groups
described
above.
Branch and
internodal
distances
are
proportional
to
the
number
of
character-stage
changes
required.
The
total
length
was
85
(versus
96
found
in
Wagner
parsimony),
and
the
consistency
index
(a
the
greyhound
group,
even
though
an
unresolved
trichotomy
is
presented
between
Galgo
Espauol,
Gos
d’Atura
and
Ca
de
Bestiar
breeds.
The
sum
of
squares
had
a
value
of
0.248
and
the
average
percent
standard
deviation
was
5.31%.
DISCUSSION
In
examining
all
the
topologies
of
the
trees
resulting
from
the
analysis
of
morpho-
logical
characters,
it
is
possible
to
verify
some
stable
relationships
among
different
groups
of
breeds.
Sabueso
Espanol
and
Perdiguero
de
Burgos
form
a
separate
clus-
ter
from
Mastin
Espanol
and
Mastin
del
Pirineo
breeds.
The
last
2
clusters,
in
their
turn,
are
related
and
form
a
new
cluster.
The
bootstrap
analysis
(figure
4)
confirms
this
grouping
(79%
of
the
bootstrap
replicates).
Podenco
Ibicenco,
Po-
denco
Canario,
Podenco
Ib6rico
and
Galgo
Espanol
breeds
are
related
in
all
trees.
The
bootstrap
analysis,
however,
failed
to
confirm
the
relationship
between
Galgo
It
can
be
observed
from
the
tree
in
figure
6
that
the
cluster
formed
by
the
Mastin
del
Pirineo
and
Mastin
Espaiiol
breeds
would
fit
in
with
the
ancestral
trunk
of
Cf
inostranzewi,
and
the
cluster
that
Sabueso
Espafiol
and
Perdiguero
de
Burgos
form
will
fit
with
Cf
intermedius,
both
being
related
groups
and
forming
in
their
turn
a
new
cluster.
On
the
other
hand,
a
close
relationship
is
observed
between
the
3
breeds
of
Podencos
that
would
form
the
trunk
of
Cf
leineri.
Galgo
Espanol
remains
a
little
farther
away,
although
taking
as
a
basis
the
trees
resulting
from
the
qualitative
analysis
(MIX
program
and
PAUP
program)
and
quantitative
analysis
(FITCH
program),
the
breed
might
be
included
in
the
trunk
of
Cf
leineri.
Gos
d’Atura
would
be
the
only
representative
of
Cf
metris-optimae,
and
Ca
de
Bestiar
would
remain
isolated.
Due
to
the
particular
origin
of
the
Ca
de
Bestiar
breed
(it
is
believed
that
it
comes
from
crossings
between
Podencos,
Perdigueros
and
Mlastines)
the
breed
has
not
been
assigned
to
any
specific
ancestral trunk.
According
to
Felsenstein
(1986),
the
resultant
tree
could
be
considered
as
an
estimation
of
the
phylogeny
of
the
breeds,
which
would
suggest
that
the
Sabueso
Espafiol,
Perdiguero
de
Burgos,
Mastfn
del
Pirineo
and
Mastin
Espauol
breeds
would
be
related
and
would
descend
fiom
a
hypothetical
common
ancestor.
On
the
other
hand,
Gos
d’Atura
( Cf
metris-optimae)
and
Ca
de
Bestiar
would
be
more
related
to
the
members
of
the
Cf
leineri.
A
common
ancestor
might
be
postulated
for
the
Cf
m.etris-optim.ae
and
Cf
leineri
trunks.
Figure
7
summarizes
the
hypothetical
relationships
between
ancestral
trunks
described
above.
The
methods
applied
in
this
study
were
devised
mainly
to
analyze
natural
popu-
lations.
This
paper
deals
with
populations
of
domestic
animals
whose
characteristics
were
fixed
by
man
in
a
process
of
artificial
selection,
assumed
to
be
very
intensive
at
least
at
the
beginning
of
breed
differentiation.
The
selection
criteria
would
have
been
very
complex,
including
both
characters
related
to
some
specific
ability
and
other
traits
derived
from
the
caprice
of
the
breeders.
Nevertheless,
we
think
that
selection
is
the
evolutionary
strength
that
could
have
had
the
greatest
weight
in
the
process
of
breed
differentiation.
In
most
species
of
domestic
animals,
and
in
a
spe-
cial
manner
in
the
canine
species,
the
characteristics
that
usually
define
a
breed
are
basically
morphological.
The
breed,
consciously
or
unconsciously,
has
been
created
by
man,
even
though
the
contribution
of
the
environment
has
operated
through
nat-
ural
selection.
Orozco’s
words
(1985)
about
the
breed
concept
in
domestic
animals
are
illustrative:
&dquo;Nobody
can
stop
a
breeder,
a
technician,
or
anyone
who
has
access
to
a
group
of
animals,
from
establishing
a
particular
population
as
a
breed,
if
he
bases
this
on
fixed,
objective,
uniform
and
different
characteristics
from
other
breeds.
He
can
speak,
if
he
wants
to,
about
a
new
breed.
The
breed
has
simply
to
agree
with
definitive
and
very
strict
characteristics:
perfection
of
colour,
type,
appearance,
well
determined
measures
of
different
parts
of
the
body,
etc.
If
the
breed
is
established
in
this
manner,
there
is
no
objection
to
make&dquo;.
This
assertion
acquires
great
importance
in
the
case
of
dog
breeds.
Here,
the
patterns
or
prototypes
for
the
inclusion
of
an
animal
in
a
particular
breed
are
very
strict,
resting
on
multiple
morphological
assessments,
both
qualitative
and
quantitative,
that
should
be
within
certain
limits.
If
the
qualifiers
consider
that
an
animal
does
not
achieve
the
proper
requirements,
nobody
doubts
that
this
animal
does
not
belong
to
the
breed.
This
consideration
should
preclude
for
most
breeds
inter-racial
crossings
that
would
have
resulted
in
a
less
tree-like
genealogy.
In
an
ecological
context,
Crouau-Roy
(1990)
affirms
that
morphological
data
may
reflect
historical
processes
but
are
much
more
under
the
influence
of
differential
selective
pressures
(micro-
and
macro-environmental
influences)
than
biochemical
data.
This
affirmation
might
be
also
applicable
to
the
case
of
the
evolution
of
canine
breeds.
In
this
sense,
it
has
also
been
argued
that
the
study
of
the
values
of
the
genic
frequencies
of
structural
genes
that
code
for
proteins
and
soluble
blood
enzymes,
without
any
relation
with
fitness,
ie
assumed
as
neutral
genes,
would
be
a
good
indicator
of
the
genetic
similarity
or
divergence
between
populations
(Kimura,
1983).
This kind
of
analysis
may
allow
us
to