Population structuring of the endemic black-cheeked gnateater, Conopophaga melanops melanops (Vieillot, 1818) (Aves, Conopophagidae), in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Abstract

Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to analyze genetic differentiation among three populations of the endemic Black-cheeked Gnateater (Conopophaga melanops melanops) within a larger pristine reminiscent of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Analyses of molecular variance (AMOVA) (φ ST = 0.13149, P < 0.0001) and the nonparametric test for homogeneity of the molecular variance (HOMOVA) (B = 0.32337; P = 0.0019) showed a statistically significant genetic divergence among the three Black-cheeked Gnateater populations in a continuous transect of 250 km. Some hypothetic explanations for these results are the sedentary nature of the species and the historical isolation of the populations in refuges during the Pleistocene. The present results suggest that the local populations were naturally differentiated along the entire original range before the recent process of massive deforestation.Keywords: population genetics, suboscines passerines, tropical forest, conservation genetics. Estruturação populacional do endêmico cuspidor-de-máscara-preta,Conopophaga melanops melanops (Vieillot, 1818) (Aves, Conopophagidae), na floresta Atlântica brasileira Resumo Marcadores polimórficos de DNA amplificados ao acaso (RAPD) foram utilizados para analisar a diferenciação gené-tica entre três populações do endêmico cuspidor-de-máscara preta (Conopophaga melanops melanops) de um amplo remanescente preservado da floresta Atlântica brasileira. Análises de Variância Molecular (AMOVA) (φ ST = 0,13149, P < 0,0001) e o teste não paramétrico para a homogeneidade da variância molecular (HOMOVA) (B = 0,32337; P = 0,0019) comprovaram uma divergência genética significativa entre as três populações em um transecto contínuo de 250 km. Algumas explicações hipotéticas para estes resultados são a natureza sedentária da espécie e o isolamento histórico das populações em refúgios durante o Pleistoceno. Os presentes resultados sugerem que as populações locais foram diferenciadas naturalmente ao longo da distribuição original antes do recente processo de intenso desmatamento.Palavras-chave: genética de populações, passeriformes suboscines, floresta tropical, genética da conservação.

Population dynamics of the black-cheeked gnateater (Conopophaga melanops, Conopophagidae) in southern Brazil

“…Past or present fragmentation of its Atlantic Forest habitat has resulted in genetic divergence of local populations, suggesting that this relatively sedentary species may further suffer from continued deforestation (Lunardi et al . 2008). As is typical of the family, this gnateater is insectivorous and forages mostly on the ground (Alves & Duarte 1996).…”

“…The black-cheeked gnateater is relatively common and is the only species in the family that is endemic to Atlantic Forests, found from the northern coastal half of the state of Santa Catarina in the south, almost to the state of Rio Grande do Norte in the north, where suitable habitat still remains (Ridgely & Tudor 1994, Sick 1997. Past or present fragmentation of its Atlantic Forest habitat has resulted in genetic divergence of local populations, suggesting that this relatively sedentary species may further suffer from continued deforestation (Lunardi et al 2008). As is typical of the family, this gnateater is insectivorous and forages mostly on the ground (Alves & Duarte 1996).…”

Escalar para Sobreviver? Um Novo Limite Altitudinal do Cuspidor-de-máscara- preta (Conopophaga melanops) na Mata Atlântica

“…They were sampled for blood parasites and then released into the wild. Until now, it had been widely believed that the altitudinal distribution limit of this species in the Atlantic Forest was around 800 meters (Straube, 1989;Alves and Duarte, 1996;Sick, 1997;Machado and Fonseca, 2000;Alves, 2002;Lopes et al, 2005;Lunardi et al, 2007;Piratelli, 2008;Souza, 2008;Lima and Ropper, 2009;Mallet-Rodrigues, 2010;Manhães and Loures-Ribeiro, 2011;Lima, 2013;Melo et al, 2018). However, the records presented in this study invite us to reconsider the altitudinal limit of the species occurrence.…”