Abstract
Scats from marine otters were collected from the entire Peruvian distribution range along the Pacific coast. Partial mtDNA control region sequences (265 bp) were successfully amplified and analysed in 37 out of 87 samples. Based on spatial distribution and home range information of marine otters we assumed our final data set to represent at least 24 different individuals, yielding surprisingly high genetic variability (11 haplotypes, h = 0.86, π = 0.0117). No unequivocal evidence of genetic substructuring, a bottleneck or isolation by distance could be detected. This study presents the first genetic data in this endangered species and highlights the significance of the Peruvian gene pool for the establishment of reserves, potential future expansion, recolonisation or translocations.
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Acknowledgements
Execution of field work was made possible by Authorization No. 98-2008-INRENA-IFFS-DCB given by the National Institute of Natural Resources (INRENA) from the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Peru. Natalia Ortiz, Daniella Biffi and Jerico Solis assisted in the field. Yennifer Hernández assisted in the laboratory work. IDEAWILD provided logistic material through Elisa Ruiz. Financial support from The Society for Marine Mammology (SMM) is gratefully acknowledged.
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Valqui, J., Hartl, G.B. & Zachos, F.E. Non-invasive genetic analysis reveals high levels of mtDNA variability in the endangered South-American marine otter (Lontra felina). Conserv Genet 11, 2067–2072 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-010-0069-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-010-0069-9