Molecular phylogeny and species delimitation in Mazama Rafinesque, 1817 (Cetartiodactyla:Cervidae)

Author(s)

Pedro Henrique de Faria Peres

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Jaboticabal. 2020-09-09.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias. Jaboticabal
• Defense date: 2020-08-24
• Advisor: José Maurício Barbanti Duarte

Abstract

The red brocket deer (Mazama americana Erxleben, 1777)) is considered cryptic species complex whose polyphyletic state and chromosomal differences have been already demonstrated. These chromossomal differences act as a reproductive barrier that can lead to isolation, depending on the level of divergence, thus, reinforce the need for taxonomic revision. In this sense a species revalidation has just been proposed for Mazama rufa Illiger 1811 in the Atlantic Forest. The resolution of the remaning taxonomic uncertainty is vital in this taxa assessment and conservation, once there is several sampling gaps and other potential species to be evaluated. Therefore, the present work sought to evaluate the phylogenetic relationships between the chromosomal variants and to delimit potential new species for the M. americana complex from molecular data. The validity of M. rufa was tested and aspects of its distribution and conservation status were also inferred. A set of specimens with chromosomal information (cytotype) and another set of fecal samples collected in nature were sequenced for part of the mitochondrial regions Cytb, D-loop and ND5. Bayesian inference and Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic analyzes were performed and coalescent methods of molecular species delimitation (GMYC and PTP) were applied to identify molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs). The phylogenetic hypothesis demonstrated a reciprocal monophiletic relationship between all cytotypes, with the exception of Carajás. The red brocket deers M. americana (sensu strictu) and M. rufa were recovered as sisters and valid species. On the other hand, Juína and Rondônia cytotypes should represent two distinct species from M. americana. The M. rufa species is composed of Paraná and Carajás cytotypes, has a wide distribution from the south of Brazil up to the south-southeast of the Amazon Forest, and potentially will not be categorized as threatened with extinction. The results demonstrated that even the minimal chromosomal difference (a tandem fusion) can imply different species, depending on other factors as the time since divergence. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/02200-8 - Distribution and gene flow between genetic variants of the red brocket deer (Mazama americana Erxleben, 1777) in Brazil
• Grantee: Pedro Henrique de Faria Peres
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate