Population structure and conservation of a high-altitude specialist: the Andean cat

COSSÍOS D.; WALKER R.S.; LUCHERINI M.; RUIZ-GARCÍA M.; ANGERS B.

Endangered Species Research

International Ecology Institute

Año: 2012 vol. 16 p. 283 - 294

1863-5407

The Andean cat, Leopardus jacobita, is considered one of the rarest felids of the world, although it has a large latitudinal distribution. Due to its preference for upland habitats, it has been suggested that it could have naturally fragmented populations. Despite great concern regarding its conservation status, very little is known about its population structure, crucial information to make appropriate management plans. In this study, we have investigated its genetic diversity, population structure and evolutionary history analysing 459 base pairs of the mtDNA control region, 789 base pairs of the NADH-5, ATP-8 and 16S mitochondrial genes, and eleven nuclear microsatellites, with the aim of identify conservation units. The analyses were made on 30 skins and 65 recently collected faecal samples from throughout the species´ known range, which revealed a total of 56 Andean cat individuals. Our results confirm that Andean cat populations harbour extremely low mitochondrial and nuclear genetic diversity. The population structure of this species suggests the existence of two evolutionarily significant units (ESUs), with a latitudinal separation between 26°S and 35°S. In addition, two genetically distinct groups within the northern ESU could be considered separate management units (MUs).