Data from: Greece: a Balkan subrefuge for a remnant red deer (Cervus elaphus) population

A number of phylogeographic studies have revealed the existence of
multiple ice age refugia within the Balkan Peninsula marking it as a
biodiversity hotspot. Greece has been reported to harbour genetically
differentiated lineages from the rest of Balkans for a number of mammal
species. We therefore searched for distinct red deer lineages in Greece,
by analysing 78 samples originating from its last population in Parnitha
Mountain (central Greece). Additionally, we tested the impact of
human-induced practices on this population. The presence of two discrete
mtDNA lineages was inferred: i) an abundant one not previously sampled in
the Balkans and ii) a more restricted one shared with other Balkan
populations, possibly the result of successful translocations of
eastern-European individuals. Microsatellite-based analyses of 14 loci
strongly support the existence of two subpopulations with relative
frequencies similar to mitochondrial analyses. This study stresses the
biogeographic importance of central Greece as a separate last Glacial
Maximun Period (LGM) refugium within the Balkans. It also delineates the
possible effects that recent translocations of red deer populations had on
the genetic structuring within Parnitha. We suggest that the Greek red
deer population of Parnitha is genetically distinct and restocking
programs should take this genetic evidence into consideration.