Genetic diversity of Oecomys (Rodentia, Sigmodontinae) from the Tapajós River basin and the role of rivers as barriers for the genus in the region

Publication date: Available online 28 April 2019Source: Mammalian BiologyAuthor(s): Juliane Saldanha, Daniela Cristina Ferreira, Victor Fonsêca da Silva, Manoel Santos-Filho, Ana Cristina Mendes-Oliveira, Rogério Vieira RossiAbstractThe genus Oecomys is one of the most speciose within the subfamily Sigmodontinae, with most species found in the Amazon region. Recent studies have shown that the diversity, recognition of specific boundaries and geographical distribution is still imprecise for the genus. Herein, we investigate the genetic diversity of Oecomys in the Tapajós River basin and determine whether its rivers (Tapajós, Teles Pires, and Juruena) act as barriers for some species or populations in this genus based on phylogenetic analyzes with the mitochondrial marker cytochrome b (cytb) and the nuclear marker intron 7 β-fibrinogen, and on populational analysis with cytb. The phylogenetic relationships showed the presence of seven species in the region, namely O. bicolor, Oecomys aff. catherinae, O. catherinae, O. cleberi, O. paricola, O. roberti, and O. tapajinus. The geographic distributions of O. bicolor and O. cleberi seem to be shaped by the Tapajós and Teles Pires Rivers, with the former species occurring on the right bank and the latter species on the left bank of both rivers. Moreover, O. cleberi was the only Oecomys species to be recorded on the left bank of the Tapajós River. Our results also indicate that gene flow occurs between O. cleberi populations fro...

Source: Mammalian Biology - April 29, 2019 Category: Biology Source Type: research