Fig. 4.

Evaluating the position of the domestic pigeon breeds in the tree using D-statistic. Density plots showing the Z-scores distributions obtained from the D-statistic analyses testing the tree topology between the: domestic pigeons, Middle East rock doves, and rock doves from the MB-E-AI. The tests were performed for each sample individually, except for the domestic pigeons that were grouped in a single population. The 2 tree topologies tested are shown as diagrams in the right side of the figure. When Middle East rock doves were tested as an outgroup to the domestic pigeons and MB-E-AI rock doves, Z-scores were overall more positive and statistically significant, mainly for populations from Syria, Palestine, and Iraq. In contrast, when Middle East rock doves were placed as forming a clade with the domestic pigeons, Z-scores values were lower, and a higher proportion was nonstatistically significant. Dots represent the Z-score obtained for each MB-E-AI specimen tested. Dotted lines in the x axis show the range for nonstatistically significant values (|Z|< 3).