From conservation genetics to conservation genomics in Argentina: when science is not the issue

PATRICIA MIROL; LAURA WOLFENSON; FACUNDO ROBINO; DANIELA FONT; JESICA AQUINO; M.JIMENA GÓMEZ FERNÁNDEZ; DANIELA PEREYRA; JAVIER PEREIRA; FERNANDO MAPELLI; ESQUENAZI, SOFÍA MICAELA; LAURA KAMENETZKY; NATALIA MACCHIAROLI; AGUSTÍN PAVIOLO

Congreso; Biodiversity Genomics 2022: sequencing genomes all around the world; 2022

Earth BioGenome Project

Argentina represents the southern limit of many Latin American species distributions. Habitat loss and fragmentation, with the consequent reduction in genetic variability, are common in these range-edge populations; being at the same time of high conservation priority because of their unique genetic characteristics. We characterized the genetic variability and structure of the jaguar (Panthera onca) using microsatellite typing, and the marsh deer (Blastoceros dichotomus) using amplicon sequencing. The jaguar is the top predator of Latin America and is Critically Endangered in Argentina, occupying only 5% of its past distribution in three ecoregions which constitute two distinct genetic groups with low effective size and very low genetic diversity. However, the ecological connection between two areas conforming the same genetic group seems lost due to changes in land use, calling for urgent management actions to restore connectivity. The marsh deer is the largest deer of Latin America and is categorized as Vulnerable in Argentina. Its southernmost population lives in a natural environment being replaced by forest plantations, structured as a metapopulation with unequal gene flow, where the interconnecting fragment is in urgent need for conservation. We are now undertaking an ambitious project, the resequencing of jaguar genome and sequencing the complete genome of three endangered and umbrella mammals. Our main goal is to use these genomes to generate numerous and precise molecular markers for the analysis of non invasive samples, and, in doing so, establish the genetic basis for conservation strategies.