Patterns of genetic variation in Puma concolor populations on central and southern Argentina: steps towards building conservation units

MATIAS EXEQUIEL MAC ALLISTER; REGINA PAOLA MAZZEI; CARLOS EZEQUIEL FIGUEROA; DIANA BELÉN ACOSTA; JUAN ZANON MARTÍNEZ; MARIANO LISANDRO MERINO; JUAN IGNACIO TÚNEZ; ALEJANDRO TRAVAINI; GABRIELA PAULA FERNÁNDEZ

Congreso; II Congreso Latinoamericabo de Genética para la Conservación; 2021

Red de Genética para la Conservación

In Argentina, puma (Puma concolor Linnaeus, 1771) faces two main threats: habitat degradation and human conflict (poaching and illegal movement of animals). Both genetic and taxonomical knowledge should be improved to propose management and conservation decisions. In this work, we are identifying and characterizing patterns of genetic variability in Argentine populations through the use of a mitochondrial molecular marker. From the analysis of 114 sequences for a control region fragment (353bp), 5 mitochondrial haplotypes were found (Hd = 0,551 ± 0,042). Using a Bayesian approach, two phylogenetic clades (posterior probability = 1) and three clusters obtained from a population clustering test (BAPS) were identified. The populations of Neuquén, Chubut, and Santa Cruz provinces were grouped in one clade and those from northern Buenos Aires and La Pampa and Cordoba provinces were located in the other. Individuals belonging to both phylogenetic clades were found over the North of the Río Negro province and South of the Buenos Aires and La Pampa provinces, region proposed as the limit of the distribution of the subspecies P. concolor puma and P. concolor cabrerae. In the province of La Pampa, four haplotypes were found (two private); this could possibly be explained by an illegal movement of individuals for hunting use. From these studies, we could see that despite having suffered a strong extractive pressure in the last 150 years, the geographic limits between subspecies are still evident. However, since in La Pampa province game reserves carry specimens captured from several hundred kilometers away, the obtained results should be interpreted in this context. We will be able to evaluate that situation as we obtain enough samples from that area. These results are essential for the definition of Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUs) and Management Units (MUs) for the species.