Past and Recent Effects of Livestock Activity on the Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Native Guanaco Populations of Arid Patagonia

Abstract

Extensive livestock production and urbanization entail modifications of natural landscapes, including installation of fences, development of agriculture, urbanization of natural areas, and construction of roads and infrastructure that, together, impact native fauna. Here, we evaluate the diversity and genetic structure of endemic guanacos (Lama guanicoe) of the Monte and Patagonian Steppe of central Argentina, which have been reduced and displaced by sheep ranching and other impacts of human activities. Analyses of genetic variation of microsatellite loci and d-loop revealed high levels of genetic variation and latitudinal segregation of mitochondrial haplotypes. There were indications of at least two historical populations in the Monte and the Patagonian Steppe based on shared haplotypes and shared demographic history among localities. Currently, guanacos are structured into three groups that were probably reconnected relatively recently, possibly facilitated by a reduction of sheep and livestock in recent decades and a recovery of the guanaco populations. These results provide evidence of the genetic effects of livestock activity and urbanization on wild herbivore populations, which were possibly exacerbated by an arid environment with limited productive areas. The results highlight the importance of enacting conservation management plans to ensure the persistence of ancestral and ecologically functional populations of guanacos.

Autoren

Andrés Mesas
Ricardo Baldi
Benito A González
Virginia Burgi
Alexandra Chávez
Warren E Johnson
Juan C Marín

DOI

10.3390/ani11051218

eISSN

2076-2615

Ausgabe der Veröffentlichung

5

Zeitschrift

Animals

Sprache

en

Online publication date

2021

Paginierung

1218 - 1218

Status

Published online

Herausgeber

MDPI AG

Herausgeber URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani11051218

Datum der Datenerfassung

2021

Titel

Past and Recent Effects of Livestock Activity on the Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Native Guanaco Populations of Arid Patagonia

Ausgabe der Zeitschrift

11

Data source: Crossref

Abstract

Extensive livestock production and urbanization entail modifications of natural landscapes, including installation of fences, development of agriculture, urbanization of natural areas, and construction of roads and infrastructure that, together, impact native fauna. Here, we evaluate the diversity and genetic structure of endemic guanacos (<i>Lama guanicoe</i>) of the Monte and Patagonian Steppe of central Argentina, which have been reduced and displaced by sheep ranching and other impacts of human activities. Analyses of genetic variation of microsatellite loci and d-loop revealed high levels of genetic variation and latitudinal segregation of mitochondrial haplotypes. There were indications of at least two historical populations in the Monte and the Patagonian Steppe based on shared haplotypes and shared demographic history among localities. Currently, guanacos are structured into three groups that were probably reconnected relatively recently, possibly facilitated by a reduction of sheep and livestock in recent decades and a recovery of the guanaco populations. These results provide evidence of the genetic effects of livestock activity and urbanization on wild herbivore populations, which were possibly exacerbated by an arid environment with limited productive areas. The results highlight the importance of enacting conservation management plans to ensure the persistence of ancestral and ecologically functional populations of guanacos.

Addresses

Laboratorio de Genómica y Biodiversidad, Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del Bio-Bío, Chillán 3780000, Chile.

Autoren

Andrés Mesas
Ricardo Baldi
Benito A González
Virginia Burgi
Alexandra Chávez
Warren E Johnson
Juan C Marín

DOI

10.3390/ani11051218

eISSN

2076-2615

Externe Identifier

PubMed Identifier: 33922526
PubMed Central ID: PMC8146674

Funding acknowledgements

FONDECYT, Chile: Postdoctoral Grant 3050046
CONICYT, Chile: REDI-170208
FONDECYT, Chile: REDI-170208
FONDECYT, Chile: 101105
FONDECYT, Chile: 1140785
FONDECYT, Chile: DIUBB 082102 2/R
DID-UBB Grant, Universidad del BioBio, Chile: DIUBB 082102 2/R

Open access

true

ISSN

2076-2615

Ausgabe der Veröffentlichung

5

Zeitschrift

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI

Sprache

eng

Medium

Electronic

Online publication date

2021

Open access status

Open Access

Paginierung

1218

Datum der Veröffentlichung

2021

Status

Published

Publisher licence

CC BY

Datum der Datenerfassung

2021

Titel

Past and Recent Effects of Livestock Activity on the Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Native Guanaco Populations of Arid Patagonia.

Sub types

research-article
Journal Article

Ausgabe der Zeitschrift

11

Files

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/5/1218/pdf?version=1619168623 https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC8146674?pdf=render

Data source: Europe PubMed Central

Abstract

Extensive livestock production and urbanization entail modifications of natural landscapes, including installation of fences, development of agriculture, urbanization of natural areas, and construction of roads and infrastructure that, together, impact native fauna. Here, we evaluate the diversity and genetic structure of endemic guanacos (Lama guanicoe) of the Monte and Patagonian Steppe of central Argentina, which have been reduced and displaced by sheep ranching and other impacts of human activities. Analyses of genetic variation of microsatellite loci and d-loop revealed high levels of genetic variation and latitudinal segregation of mitochondrial haplotypes. There were indications of at least two historical populations in the Monte and the Patagonian Steppe based on shared haplotypes and shared demographic history among localities. Currently, guanacos are structured into three groups that were probably reconnected relatively recently, possibly facilitated by a reduction of sheep and livestock in recent decades and a recovery of the guanaco populations. These results provide evidence of the genetic effects of livestock activity and urbanization on wild herbivore populations, which were possibly exacerbated by an arid environment with limited productive areas. The results highlight the importance of enacting conservation management plans to ensure the persistence of ancestral and ecologically functional populations of guanacos.

Date of acceptance

2021

Autoren

Andrés Mesas
Ricardo Baldi
Benito A González
Virginia Burgi
Alexandra Chávez
Warren E Johnson
Juan C Marín

Autoren-URL

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33922526

DOI

10.3390/ani11051218

Externe Identifier

PubMed Central ID: PMC8146674

Funding acknowledgements

FONDECYT, Chile: 101105
FONDECYT, Chile: 1140785
DID-UBB Grant, Universidad del BioBio, Chile: DIUBB 082102 2/R
CONICYT, Chile: REDI-170208
FONDECYT, Chile: Postdoctoral Grant 3050046

ISSN

2076-2615

Ausgabe der Veröffentlichung

5

Zeitschrift

Animals (Basel)

Schlüsselwörter

camelids
control region
genetic structure
human effects
microsatellites

Sprache

eng

Country

Switzerland

PII

ani11051218

Datum der Veröffentlichung

2021

Status

Published online

Titel

Past and Recent Effects of Livestock Activity on the Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Native Guanaco Populations of Arid Patagonia.

Sub types

Journal Article

Ausgabe der Zeitschrift

11

Data source: PubMed

Past and Recent Effects of Livestock Activity on the Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Native Guanaco Populations of Arid Patagonia

Files

Tools