Testing the Effects of Barriers on the Genetic Connectivity in Podocnemis erythrocephala (Red-Headed Amazon River Turtle): Implications for Management and Conservation

作者：dos Santos Rafaela Cardoso; Silva Viana Maria das Neves; dos Santos Monjelo Luiz Alberto; Machado Andrade Paulo Cesar; Pantoja Lima Jackson; Guimaraes Oliveira Paulo Henrique; Vogt Richard C; Brito Pezzuti Juarez Carlos; Sites Jack W Jr; Hrbek Tomas; Farias Izeni Pires

来源：Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 2016, 15(1): 12-22.

DOI：10.2744/ccb-1184.1

• Reptilia
• Testudines
• chelonians
• Amazon basin
• Irapuca
• rapids
• river barrier

In contrast to the other Podocnemis species, Podocnemis erythrocephala (Pleurodira: Podocnemididae) is restricted to blackwater and clearwater rivers and lakes, including the Negro River basin, and several other tributaries of the eastern Amazon River basin. In order to test the effects of geographic barriers on genetic connectivity of P. erythrocephala, 10 localities sampled throughout the Brazilian Amazon basin were studied. Two hundred and forty-six specimens were sequenced for the mitochondrial control region. Analysis of molecular variance confirmed the existence of population subdivision (Phi(ST) = 0.28, p < 0.001). In pairwise comparisons, the values of the fixation index Phi(ST) were significant in almost all comparisons involving the Sao Gabriel da Cachoeira (Negro River), Jau National Park (Jau River), and Barreirinha (Andira River), indicating that these populations are genetically differentiated. Genetic differentiation is most likely explained by the presence of rapids and waterfalls separating the Sao Gabriel da Cachoeira (Negro River) and Jau National Park (Jau River) populations from the remaining populations. Populations from Barreirinha (Andira River) were also genetically differentiated, providing support for the hypothesis that the Amazon River is a geographic barrier for this species. Although distributed over a large geographic area, the remaining 7 localities were not differentiated from one another (p < 0.005), suggesting that these localities are part of a panmictic population distributed throughout the central Amazon basin. We recommend that the 4 structured populations be treated as separate management units.

• 出版日期2016-6