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Analysis of genetic diversity in B olivian llama populations using microsatellites
Author(s) -
Barreta J.,
GutiérrezGil B.,
Iñiguez V.,
Romero F.,
Saavedra V.,
Chiri R.,
Rodríguez T.,
Arranz J.J.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of animal breeding and genetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.689
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1439-0388
pISSN - 0931-2668
DOI - 10.1111/jbg.12009
Subject(s) - biology , genetic diversity , microsatellite , allele , gene flow , population , loss of heterozygosity , range (aeronautics) , flock , genetic variation , zoology , isolation by distance , genetic distance , genetic structure , evolutionary biology , genetics , ecology , demography , gene , materials science , sociology , composite material
Summary South A merican camelids ( SAC s) have a major role in the maintenance and potential future of rural A ndean human populations. More than 60% of the 3.7 million llamas living worldwide are found in B olivia. Due to the lack of studies focusing on genetic diversity in B olivian llamas, this analysis investigates both the genetic diversity and structure of 12 regional groups of llamas that span the greater part of the range of distribution for this species in B olivia. The analysis of 42 microsatellite markers in the considered regional groups showed that, in general, there were high levels of polymorphism (a total of 506 detected alleles; average PIC across per marker: 0.66), which are comparable with those reported for other populations of domestic SAC s. The estimated diversity parameters indicated that there was high intrapopulational genetic variation (average number of alleles and average expected heterozygosity per marker: 12.04 and 0.68, respectively) and weak genetic differentiation among populations ( F ST range: 0.003–0.052). In agreement with these estimates, B olivian llamas showed a weak genetic structure and an intense gene flow between all the studied regional groups, which is due to the exchange of reproductive males between the different flocks. Interestingly, the groups for which the largest pairwise F ST estimates were observed, S ud L ípez and N or L ípez, showed a certain level of genetic differentiation that is probably due to the pattern of geographic isolation and limited communication infrastructures of these southern localities. Overall, the population parameters reported here may serve as a reference when establishing conservation policies that address B olivian llama populations.