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Genetic diversity and conservation status of managed vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) populations in Argentina

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Abstract

The vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) was indiscriminately hunted for more than 400 years and, by the end of 1960s, it was seriously endangered. At that time, a captive breeding program was initiated in Argentina by the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) with the aim of preserving the species. Nowadays, vicuñas are managed in captivity and in the wild to obtain their valuable fiber. The current genetic status of Argentinean vicuña populations is virtually unknown. Using mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite markers, we assessed levels of genetic diversity of vicuña populations managed in the wild and compared it with a captive population from INTA. Furthermore, we examined levels of genetic structure and evidence for historical bottlenecks. Overall, all populations revealed high genetic variability with no signs of inbreeding. Levels of genetic diversity between captive and wild populations were not significantly different, although the captive population showed the lowest estimates of allelic richness, number of mitochondrial haplotypes, and haplotype diversity. Significant genetic differentiation at microsatellite markers was found between free-living populations from Jujuy and Catamarca provinces. Moreover, microsatellite data also revealed genetic structure within the Catamarca management area. Genetic signatures of past bottlenecks were detected in wild populations by the Garza Williamson test. Results from this study are discussed in relation to the conservation and management of the species.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the staff of INTA Catamarca and INTA Abra Pampa for collaborating with mobility, sample collection and shipping, and the Secretariat of Environment and Sustainable Development from Catamarca for facilitating permits for sampling. We also want to thank to Dr. B. Vila who provided samples from Cieneguillas and to SANIN S.A for allowing us to collect samples during vicuña capture in Vega Pasto Ventura. Thank to Dr M. Martinez from the SRA and Dr. MR. Santos for their technical assistance with microsatellite data. This work was supported by grants PIP-0278 and PICT 2010-1658 from The National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) and the National Agency of Scientific and Technological Promotion (ANPCYT) of Argentina. M. Anello is PhD fellow of CONICET, L Vidal Rioja is researcher of CONICET and Di Rocco F is researcher of CICPBA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio de Genética Molecular, Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular (IMBICE), CCT-CONICET-La Plata, CICPBA, Calle 526 e/10 y 11, PO Box 403, 1900, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    M. Anello, M. S. Daverio, M. B. Silbestro, L. Vidal-Rioja & F. Di Rocco

  2. INTA-Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Abra Pampa, Ruta Provincial 11 km 17 (4640), Cochinoca, Abra Pampa, Jujuy, Argentina

    S. R. Romero

  3. INTA-Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Catamarca, Ruta Provincial 33 km 4 (4705), Sumalao, Valle Viejo, Catamarca, Argentina

    F. Rigalt

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  1. M. Anello
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Correspondence to F. Di Rocco.

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ESM_Fig. 1

Median joining network of mtDNA showing evolutionary relationships among haplotypes. Size of circles is proportional to the frequency of each haplotype. Multiple mutational steps are indicated by a double line and the respective number of substitutions (BMP 1259 kb)

ESM_Fig. 2

log(genetic similarity (M)) vs log(geographic distance) plot. Correlation of genetics and geographic distance parameters: Z = 6.5135, r = −0.9839, p = 0.04. Linear model: Y = 2.153–0.764X, R2 = 0.969 (95 % CI: 0.857, 1.000) (JPEG 47 kb)

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Anello, M., Daverio, M.S., Romero, S.R. et al. Genetic diversity and conservation status of managed vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) populations in Argentina. Genetica 144, 85–97 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10709-015-9880-z

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