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Genetic diversity and population structure in the endangered giant otter, Pteronura brasiliensis

Pickles, R. S. A., Groombridge, Jim J., Rojas, V. D. Zambrana, Van Damme, P., Gottelli, D., Ariani, C. V., Jordan, W. C. (2012) Genetic diversity and population structure in the endangered giant otter, Pteronura brasiliensis. Conservation Genetics, 13 (1). pp. 235-245. ISSN 1566-0621. (doi:10.1007/s10592-011-0279-9) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:48323)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-011-0279-9

Abstract

We assessed levels of genetic diversity and investigated patterns of population structure in three remnant populations of the endangered giant otter, Pteronura brasiliensis, using microsatellite loci. All populations displayed moderate to low levels of heterozygosity and allelic richness (H O 0.56–0.57, A R 4.00–5.15) and effective population sizes were low (N E 10.8–54) although only the Iténez population exhibited the signature of a genetic bottleneck. Population structure analyses revealed a pattern in which the populations of the Upper Amazon, Orinoco and Essequibo drainages comprised partially differentiated segments of a northern South American metapopulation, whereas the population of the Iténez appeared isolated. The observed patterns are congruent with previous mitochondrial DNA analysis which suggested the Iténez and northern South American groups constitute two evolutionary significant units. The results presented here should be considered in planning future policies aiming to manage the recovery of the giant otter across its range.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1007/s10592-011-0279-9
Uncontrolled keywords: Gene flow South America Genetic bottleneck Drainage basins Populations Evolutionary significant units
Subjects: Q Science > QH Natural history > QH426 Genetics
Q Science > QH Natural history > QH541 Ecology
Q Science > QH Natural history > QH75 Conservation (Biology)
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation > DICE (Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology)
Depositing User: Jim Groombridge
Date Deposited: 08 May 2015 14:36 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:19 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/48323 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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