Summary
The Iberian Peninsula is considered a biodiversity “hotspot” because it suffered the influence of several cultures and it was also a Glacial refugium. Native animal breeds were developed in Iberia and they are locally adapted to specific geographic and climate conditions. Extensive genetic data has been gathered for Portuguese native cattle and dogs showing that they harbor high genetic diversity and are genetically structured. No phylochronological study has been conducted to investigate past genetic diversity of Iberian breeds and the occurrence of local domestication.
