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Microsatellite data reveal fine genetic structure in male Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianesis) in two geographically close embayments at south-eastern coast of Brazil

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Abstract

A large macrogeographic differentiation has been observed among Sotalia guianensis populations along the South American coast. However, no genetic structure has been detected so far in closely distributed populations of this species, even though it has been observed in other cetaceans. Here, we examined the fine scale population structure for the largest populations of S. guianensis inhabiting Sepetiba and Paraty embayments at the south-eastern coast of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region sequences failed to detect variability among sequences. Conversely, evidence of significant male population structure was found on the basis of ten nuclear microsatellite loci. Surprisingly, the microsatellite markers were able to distinguish between individuals from the two embayments located 60 km apart. The results suggest that differences in habitat type and behavioral specializations are likely to explain the patterns of genetic structure. These findings should provide baselines for the management of communities exposed to increasing human-driven habitat loss.

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Acknowledgments

Financial support was provided for CNPq (National Research Council of Brazil), CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento do Pessoal de Ensino Superior, Brazil), and MBR-Vale (Brazil). Special thanks to CAPES for the scholarship award to CH to conduct part of her doctoral research as a visiting student at Oregon State University (OSU). All Brazilian samples were collected with the government permit IBAMA 10700-1/2008 and 10700-2/2009. This work was also performed according to the special authorization for access to genetic resources in Brazil # 03/2004 issued by IBAMA/CGEN. Part of sample was collected inside a Brazilian environmental protected area (ESEC-Tamoios) under permission and collaboration of Adriana Nascimento Gomes, Sylvia Chada, Silvia Peixoto and Zeca. We like to thank all students and staff in Brazil and USA who contributed to perform this project, with special thanks to Josimar Gomes and Debbie Steel for technical assistance in the laboratory work and Laura Dias for comments on this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Biodiversidade e Evolução Molecular, Departamento de Biologia Geral, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Caixa Postal 486, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-010, Brazil

    Claudia Hollatz & Fabrício R. Santos

  2. Projeto Boto-cinza, St Terezinha 531, Vila Muriqui, Mangaratiba, Rio de Janeiro, 23860-000, Brazil

    Leonardo Flach

  3. Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Marine Mammal Institute, Oregon State University, Newport, OR, USA

    C. Scott Baker

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  1. Claudia Hollatz
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  2. Leonardo Flach
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  4. Fabrício R. Santos
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Correspondence to Fabrício R. Santos.

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Communicated by S. Uthicke.

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Hollatz, C., Flach, L., Scott Baker, C. et al. Microsatellite data reveal fine genetic structure in male Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianesis) in two geographically close embayments at south-eastern coast of Brazil. Mar Biol 158, 927–933 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-010-1619-x

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