title: Genetic structure of Blastocerus dichotomus populations in the Parana River basin (Brazil) based on protein variability.
abstract: The population structure of 147 marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus) from three areas in the Paraná River basin, Brazil, was studied by observing protein polymorphism at 17 loci. Six loci were polymorphic and 11 monomorphic. The proportion of polymorphic loci (P) was 35.29% and the average heterozygosity (H) was 6.31%. Wright's FST indicated that only 4.9% of the total variation in allelic frequencies was due to genetic differences between the three groups. The high value of F(IS) (0.246) indicated inbreeding in the marsh deer. Genetic distance values (D = 0.014-0.051) showed little divergence between the three areas. We suggest that probable mechanisms accounting for the genetic structure are female phylopatry and polygyny and also that inbreeding has resulted from decreasing areas of wetland leading to isolation, overhunting, and diseases transmitted by cattle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, 14049-900 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: E J F
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: E P B
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Contel
authors.forename: J M B
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Duarte
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D001938:Brazil; D003670:Deer / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005828:Genetics, Population; D006579:Heterozygote; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins