title: Population structure and  demographic inferences concerning the endangered onychophoran species Epiperipatus  acacioi (Onychophora: Peripatidae).
abstract: Epiperipatus  acacioi (Onychophora: Peripatidae) is an endemic species of  the Atlantic rainforest in southeastern Brazil, with a restricted known  distribution, found only in two nearby areas (Tripuí and Itacolomi). Mitochondrial  gene COI sequences of 93 specimens collected across the known range of E.  acacioi were used to assess the extant genetic diversity and patterns of  genetic structure, as well as to infer the demographic history of this species.  We found considerable variability within the populations, even though there has  been recent environmental disturbance in these habitats. The samples from the  two areas where this species is found showed significantly different COI  sequences and constitute two distinct populations [exact test of sample  differentiation (P = 0.0008) and pairwise F(ST) analyses  (F(ST) = 0.214, P < 0.00001)]. However,  there was little genetic differentiation among samples from different sampling  sites within populations, suggesting that the potential for dispersal of E.  acacioi greater than would have been expected, based on their cryptic  behavior and reduced vagility. Mismatch analyses and neutrality tests revealed  evidence of recent population expansion processes for both populations,  possibly related to variations in the past distribution of this species.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil. gustavo.lacorte@gmail.com
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Lacorte
authors.forename: I S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Fonseca
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D056727:Endangered Species; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000502:physiology*; D005828:Genetics, Population
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial