Revisiting the conservation genetics of Pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus)

Authors

  • Susana Gonzalez Profesora Titular de Investigación Departamento Biodiversidad y Genética Instituto de Investigaciones Biologicas Clemente Estable IIBCE- Minsiterio de Educacion y Cultura MEC Co-Chair Deer Specialist Group SSC-IUCN Av. Italia 3318-11600 Montevideo http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6470-6182
  • Leticia Repetto Departamento Biodiversidad y Genética Instituto de Investigaciones Biologicas Clemente Estable IIBCE- Minsiterio de Educacion y Cultura MEC
  • Verónica Gutiérrez Departamento Biodiversidad y Genética Instituto de Investigaciones Biologicas Clemente Estable IIBCE- Minsiterio de Educacion y Cultura MEC http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6627-0519
  • María Eugenia Olivera Departamento Biodiversidad y Genética Instituto de Investigaciones Biologicas Clemente Estable IIBCE- Minsiterio de Educacion y Cultura MEC
  • Claudia Corbi Botto Departamento Biodiversidad y Genética Instituto de Investigaciones Biologicas Clemente Estable IIBCE- Minsiterio de Educacion y Cultura MEC http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9875-7869
  • Yanina Leone Departamento Biodiversidad y Genética Instituto de Investigaciones Biologicas Clemente Estable IIBCE- Minsiterio de Educacion y Cultura MEC
  • Mariano L. Merino Centro de Bioinvestigaciones. Universidad Nacional del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires - Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Presidente Frondizi 2650.Pergamino, Buenos Aires, Argentina http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7750-140X
  • Fernanda Góss Braga Departamento Biodiversidad y Genética Instituto de Investigaciones Biologicas Clemente Estable IIBCE- Minsiterio de Educacion y Cultura MEC
  • José Mauricio Barbanti Duarte Núcleo de Pesquisa e Conservação de Cervídeos (NUPECCE) Departamento de Zootecnia Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) Via de acesso Paulo Donato Castellane, s/n CEP: 14884-900, Sao Paulo, Brazil. http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7805-0265
  • Jesús Eduardo Maldonado 5Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington DC, U.S.A. http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4282-1072
  • Mariana Cosse Departamento Biodiversidad y Genética Instituto de Investigaciones Biologicas Clemente Estable IIBCE- Minsiterio de Educacion y Cultura MEC http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9644-1633

Keywords:

Cervidae, COI, Cyt b, D-loop, Management Genetics Units.

Abstract

The Pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus) is a unique species of neotropical cervid, that inhabits a wide range of open habitats including grasslands, pampas, savannas, and cerrado (Brazil) from -5° to -41° S.  The reduction of the area encompassed by these habitats has been dramatically reduced to less than 2 % by human activities such as agriculture, urbanization, and poaching.  Three decades ago, we initiated a molecular genetic study of the Pampas deer based on representative samples from throughout their geographic range.  Our aim is to reevaluate the effect that habitat fragmentation has had on gene flow among eight wildlife Pampas deer populations and one from the captive breeding centre Estación de Cría de Fauna Autóctona (ECFA).  We examined DNA sequences from three mitochondrial markers: the control region (D-loop), Cytochrome b (Cytb), and Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI).  Furthermore, we compared the resolution of the different mitochondrial markers to elucidate the phylogenetic and phylogeographic patterns of the species to define Evolutionary Significant Units (ESU`s).  The amount of gene flow was correlated with geographic distance among groups and populations and was consistent with limited dispersal being the primary determinant of genetic differentiation between populations.  Our results showed that the D-loop was the most appropriate marker for defining Evolutionary Significant Units.  We found that the critically endangered Paraná population showed significant genetic distance from the others and revealed unique haplotypes with all the mitochondrial markers.  The molecular genetic results provide a mandate for habitat restoration and design a management plan to conserve these relictual populations.

Author Biography

Susana Gonzalez, Profesora Titular de Investigación Departamento Biodiversidad y Genética Instituto de Investigaciones Biologicas Clemente Estable IIBCE- Minsiterio de Educacion y Cultura MEC Co-Chair Deer Specialist Group SSC-IUCN Av. Italia 3318-11600 Montevideo

Profesora Titular de InvestigaciónDepartamento Biodiversidad y GenéticaIIBCE-MECCo-Chair Deer Specialist GroupSSC-IUCN

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Published

2024-01-31

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 1 (2024)

Section

Special Contribution

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