Maned wolves retain moderate levels of genetic diversity and gene flow despite drastic habitat fragmentation

The maned wolf Chrysocyon brachyurus is the largest South American canid and categorized as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. The major threat to conservation efforts is the drastic reduction of suitable habitat for the species. A large portion of its range has been converted into farm and ranch lands as well as urban areas. To better understand the impact that these anthropogenic activities are having over the remaining populations across their current distribution range, we evaluated patterns of genetic variability and differentiation between them. We also compared these results with those obtained from captive maned wolves in order to make proper ex situ recommendations. We cross-amplified 12 microsatellite loci in maned wolf samples collected throughout their range (from Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Bolivia) and from captive stocks (from captive breeding centers and zoos in Brazil, Argentina and the USA). We found that wild populations retain moderate levels of genetic variability compared with other microsatellite studies on wild canids, and our structure analysis revealed 2 genetic clusters in wild samples, one of which included samples exclusively from Bolivia. This cluster could represent a different management unit with conservation priority. The captive stock population showed higher levels of genetic variability, with the ones from Brazil being the most genetically diverse stock. The USA stock showed strong genetic differences with all other groups. This is the first study to examine the patterns of genetic diversity of both wild and captive populations of maned wolves. These results should be incorporated into further population viability assessments and in the Maned Wolf Species Survival Plan.Agencia Nacional de Investigación e Innovació

Scent-marking and maintenance behaviour of captive red brocket males (Mazama rufa) kept eight hours in a new environment: Marcação de odor e comportamento de manutenção de machos veado-mateiros (Mazama rufa) mantidos oito horas em um novo ambiente

Wild animals in captivity are often transferred to other facilities when cleaning or maintenance of the facilities where they live is carried out. The aim of this study was to assess the behavioural response of five red brocket males (Mazama rufa) after being moved to a new environment. The animals are kept in individual stalls, being eventually moved to an unfamiliar stall, previously occupied by other individuals. The latencies and frequencies of scent-marking and maintenance behaviours were recorded for eight hours after moving each animal to the new stall. Licking behaviour was the behaviour most frequently displayed (20 to 62 times), with latencies ranging from 0,02 to 12,17min. It was followed by urinating/defecating with a frequency of 24 to 56 times (latency 2,13-46 min) and flehmen, with a frequency of 11 to 24 times (latency 0,1-21,08 min). Rubbing was observed in only two deer. The Pearson´s correlation coefficients showed a positive association between flehmen and licking latencies and urinating/defecating and sleeping latencies (P<0,05, for both). It also showed that flehmen and urinating/defecating frequencies are inversely related (P<0,05). The behaviour of M. rufa males after being moved to an unfamiliar stall were characterized by common exploratory and scent-marking behaviours

Maned wolves retain moderate levels of genetic diversity and gene flow despite drastic habitat fragmentation

The maned wolf Chrysocyon brachyurus is the largest South American canid and categorized as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. The major threat to conservation efforts is the drastic reduction of suitable habitat for the species. A large portion of its range has been converted into farm and ranch lands as well as urban areas. To better understand the impact that these anthropogenic activities are having over the remaining populations across their current distribution range, we evaluated patterns of genetic variability and differentiation between them. We also compared these results with those obtained from captive maned wolves in order to make proper ex situ recommendations. We cross-amplified 12 microsatellite loci in maned wolf samples collected throughout their range (from Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Bolivia) and from captive stocks (from captive breeding centers and zoos in Brazil, Argentina and the USA). We found that wild populations retain moderate levels of genetic variability compared with other microsatellite studies on wild canids, and our structure analysis revealed 2 genetic clusters in wild samples, one of which included samples exclusively from Bolivia. This cluster could represent a different management unit with conservation priority. The captive stock population showed higher levels of genetic variability, with the ones from Brazil being the most genetically diverse stock. The USA stock showed strong genetic differences with all other groups. This is the first study to examine the patterns of genetic diversity of both wild and captive populations of maned wolves. These results should be incorporated into further population viability assessments and in the Maned Wolf Species Survival Plan

Assessing the taxonomic status of the Gray Brocket Mazama simplicicornis argentina Lönnberg, 1919 (Artiodactyla: Cervidae)

Mazama simplicicornis argentina is the name that was given to describe a gray brocket collected by Lönberg in 1919 in the central Chaco region of Argentina. Subsequent authors, based on morphological similarities, considered this name to be a synonym for the species Subulo gouazoubira Fischer, 1814 from Paraguay. In the absence of genetic analyses to compare the Argentinian and Paraguayan gray brockets, we aimed to clarify the taxonomy of M. simplicicornis argentina through an integrative assessment using morphological, cytogenetical, and molecular data from its holotype and a current topotype. Qualitative skull features and cranio-morphometric results of M. simplicicornis argentina showed a great similarity with the S. gouazoubira neotype characters. The diploid chromosome number of M. simplicicornis argentinatopotype corresponded with the karyotypical pattern of S. gouazoubira with 2n = 70 and FN = 70, showing a great similarity in all classic and molecular cytogenetic results and revealing the homologies between karyotypes. The phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial genes used in this study (concatenated partial ND5 and Cytb gene) allocated the M. simplicicornis argentina specimens in the monophyletic clade of S. gouazoubira with a branch value of 100%. These results show that there is no discontinuity between the Argentinian and Paraguayan gray brockets. Therefore, the individuals originally described as M. simplicicornis argentina should be recognized as S. gouazoubira

Assessing the taxonomic status of the Gray Brocket Mazama simplicicornis argentina Lönnberg, 1919 (Artiodactyla: Cervidae)

Mazama simplicicornis argentina is the name that was given to describe a gray brocket collected by Lönberg in 1919 in the central Chaco region of Argentina. Subsequent authors, based on morphological similarities, considered this name to be a synonym for the species Subulo gouazoubira Fischer, 1814 from Paraguay. In the absence of genetic analyses to compare the Argentinian and Paraguayan gray brockets, we aimed to clarify the taxonomy of M. simplicicornis argentina through an integrative assessment using morphological, cytogenetical, and molecular data from its holotype and a current topotype. Qualitative skull features and cranio-morphometric results of M. simplicicornis argentina showed a great similarity with the S. gouazoubira neotype characters. The diploid chromosome number of M. simplicicornis argentinatopotype corresponded with the karyotypical pattern of S. gouazoubira with 2n = 70 and FN = 70, showing a great similarity in all classic and molecular cytogenetic results and revealing the homologies between karyotypes. The phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial genes used in this study (concatenated partial ND5 and Cytb gene) allocated the M. simplicicornis argentina specimens in the monophyletic clade of S. gouazoubira with a branch value of 100%. These results show that there is no discontinuity between the Argentinian and Paraguayan gray brockets. Therefore, the individuals originally described as M. simplicicornis argentina should be recognized as S. gouazoubira

Non invasive methods for genetic analysis applied to ecological and behavioral studies in Latino-America

Documenting the presence and abundance of the neotropical mammals is the first step for understanding their population ecology, behavior and genetic dynamics in designing conservation plans. The combination of field research with molecular genetics techniques are new tools that provide valuable biological information avoiding the disturbance in the ecosystems, trying to minimize the human impact in the process to gather biological information. The objective of this paper is to review the available non invasive sampling techniques that have been used in Neotropical mammal studies to apply to determine the presence and abundance, population structure, sex ratio, taxonomic diagnostic using mitochondrial markers, and assessing genetic variability using nuclear markers. There are a wide range of non invasive sampling techniques used to determine the species identification that inhabit an area such as searching for tracks, feces, and carcasses. Other useful equipment is the camera traps that can generate an image bank that can be valuable to assess species presence and abundance by morphology. With recent advances in molecular biology, it is now possible to use the trace amounts of DNA in feces and amplify it to analyze the species diversity in an area, and the genetic variability at intraspecific level. This is particularly helpful in cases of sympatric and cryptic species in which morphology failed to diagnose the taxonomic status of several species of brocket deer of the genus Mazama

A retrospective pathology study of two Neotropical deer species (1995-2015), Brazil: Marsh deer (<i>Blastocerus dichotomus</i>) and brown brocket deer (<i>Mazama gouazoubira</i>)

<div><p>This retrospective study describes the biological and epidemiological aspects, gross and microscopical findings, and most likely causes of death (CD) in two species of Neotropical deer in Brazil. The animals were collected between 1995 and 2015 and represented 75 marsh deer (MD) and 136 brown brocket deer (BBD). Summarized, pneumonia was diagnosed microscopically in 48 MD and 52 BBD; 76 deer suffered trauma, involving dog attack (14 BBD) and vehicle-collision (14 BBD). Pulmonary edema (50 MD; 55 BBD) and congestion (57 MD; 78 BBD) were the most common findings for both species. Additionally, we diagnosed ruminal and myocardial mycosis in MD and BBD, respectively; ovarian dysgerminoma and pancreatic trematodiasis in BBD; and lesions suggestive of malignant catarrhal fever and orbiviral hemorrhagic disease in both species. The main CD in MD was: respiratory (41/75), alimentary, nutritional, trauma and euthanasia (3/75 each). Correspondingly, in BBD were: trauma (34/131), respiratory (30/131) and euthanasia (9/131). Respiratory disease was often defined by pulmonary edema and pneumonia. We provide evidence that respiratory disease, mainly pneumonia, is a critical pathological process in these Neotropical deer species. Although no etiological agents were identified, there is evidence of bacterial and viral involvement. Our results show trauma, mainly anthropogenic, as a common ailment in BBD. We propose to prioritize respiratory disease in future research focused on South American deer health aspects. We believe anthropogenic trauma may be a primary threat for populations of BBD.</p></div

Causes of death in MD and BBD.

<p>Causes of death in MD and BBD.</p

Main gross findings in MD and BBD.

<p>Main gross findings in MD and BBD.</p