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; SOFÍA ESQUENAZI; LAURA KAMENETZKY; NATALIA MACCHIAROLI; AGUSTIN PAVIOLO

Conferencia; Biodiversity Genomics 2022; 2022

Argentinarepresents the southern limit of many Latin American species distributions.Habitat loss and fragmentation, with the consequent reduction in geneticvariability, are common in these range-edge populations; being at the same timeof high conservation priority because of their unique genetic characteristics.We characterized the genetic variability and structure of the jaguar (Pantheraonca) using microsatellite typing, and the marsh deer (Blastocerosdichotomus) using amplicon sequencing. The jaguar is the top predator ofLatin America and is Critically Endangered in Argentina, occupying only 5% ofits past distribution in three ecoregions which constitute two distinct geneticgroups with low effective size and very low genetic diversity. However, theecological connection between two areas conforming the same genetic group seemslost due to changes in land use, calling for urgent management actions torestore connectivity. The marsh deer is the largest deer of Latin America andis categorized as Vulnerable in Argentina. Its southernmost population lives ina natural environment being replaced by forest plantations, structured as ametapopulation with unequal gene flow, where the interconnecting fragment is inurgent need for conservation. We are now undertaking an ambitious project, theresequencing of jaguar genome and sequencing the complete genome of threeendangered and umbrella mammals. Our main goal is to use these genomes togenerate numerous and precise molecular markers for the analysis of noninvasive samples, and, in doing so, establish the genetic basis forconservation strategies.