Genetic diversity and population structure of white-lipped peccaries (Tayassu pecari) in the Pantanal, Cerrado and Atlantic Forest from Brazil

Abstract In general, habitat fragmentationis associated with a reduction in gene flowthat can reduce the genetic diversity, and, consequently, a species ability to survive environmental changes. The white-lipped peccary( Tayassu pecari) is a Neotropical ecosystem engineerthat is vulnerable throughout its distribution area and under different degrees of threat in the Brazilian Pantanal (near threatened), Cerrado (endangered) and Atlantic Forest ( critically endangered). We used 13 microsatellite loci to assess the genetic diversityand population structure of 361 white-lipped peccariessampled in four areas in the Pantanal, two areas in the Cerrado, and one area in the Atlantic Forest. We found similar levels of genetic diversityin all localities. Bayesian clustering analysis indicated the presence of two ( K  = 2; all Pantanal localities plus the Cerrado locality at the Pantanal highlands versus the other Cerrado locality plus the Atlantic Forest one) or three ( K  = 3; with the additional differentiation between the Cerrado locality and the Atlantic Forest) genetically differentiated populations. We found a pattern of isolationby distance(IBD) limited by dispersal events of up to 180 km. This IBD pattern is congruent with gene flowbetween the geographically closer localities in the Pantanal and the Cerrado in the Pantanal highlands (25–137 km), while dispersal between the other Cerrado locality and the Atlantic Forest, that are 500 km apart, would not be as feasible. Therefore, we considered K  = 3 as the best scenario to represent the genetic structure of the populations analyzed. As all populations of white-lipped peccaryshowed moderate levels of genetic diversity, conservation actions are recommended to maintain their diversity, as it is vital to the long-term viability of these populations, especially those in more threatened biomes.