Genetic structure and demographic history in Dromiciops (Microbiotheria), an endemic marsupial from Chile and Argentina

SAENZ-AGUDELO, PABLO; CELIS-DIEZ, JUAN LUIS; SHAFER, AARON; QUINTERO GALVIS, JULIÁN; FRANCO, MARCELA; VAZQUEZ, M. SOLEDAD; ODA, ESTEBAN; AMICO, GUILLERMO; NESPOLO, ROBERTO

Fredericton

Congreso; CSEE, ESC & AES 2019 Joint Meeting; 2019

Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution

Dromiciops gliroides is an endemic marsupial from the temperate rain forests of Chile and Argentina (Valdivian forest), and is the only living representative of the order Microbiotheria, the ancestors of Australian marsupials. This emblematic species is also known for its ecological role as disperser of at least 16 plant species, but there is debate regarding its phylogeographic origin. Only one study, more than a decade ago, analyzed this aspect and proposed the existence of three latitudinally segregated clades. Yet it still remains unclear if these can be considered as different species limits and whatare the complete genetic relationships among these, and what is the demographic history of these clades. Here, we use a genomic approach (RADseq) to analyze the evolutionary history, historical demography and population structure of D.gliroides across most of its geographic range. Our preliminary results indicate a marked genetic structure of two geographic clusters (northern and southern), and further substructure within these groups that appears to be linked withsome landscape features. Further analyses of the geographic distribution of genetic diversity will be discussed and will shed light on the role of the landscape and historical events such as last maximum glacial period in shaping the evolutionary history of this emblematic animal