Historical patterns of distribution and phylogenetic relationships of the small red brocket deer, Mazama bororo, using ancient DNA

Abstract

The species Mazama bororo, popularly known as small red brocket deer, was recently described in 1996. Due to this, basic aspects of their biology are still unknown, including its historical distribution, demographics and even questions about their taxonomic description. Mazama bororo is apparently restricted to the Atlantic Forest domain that has been suffering intense human pressures , and possibly is considered the species most threatened of all the cervids in Brazil. The use of ancient DNA, a relatively recent tool, has shown potential for use in conservation studies. Thus, this research project aims to use DNA extracted from museum specimens to revise the taxonomy of the species and to describe its historical distribution based on old and new specimens. Therefore, the samples of Brazil were collected in the museums from the states of of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná, São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul, Goiás, Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, Bahia, Sergipe, Alagoas, Pernambuco, Paraíba, Rio Grande do Norte, Ceará, Piauí and Maranhão. Furthermore, the holotype of Mazama americana jucunda was collected in the London museum.. This material will be extracted, amplified and sequenced in in one specific lab for ancient DNA, in the Instituto de Investigaciones Biological Clemente Estable (IIBCE, Montevideo, Uruguay). Mitochondrial markers will be used to identify the specie of each sample and together with the use of nuclear markers taxonomic study will be performed. From the data obtained will be possible to know the biological reality in relation to historical and taxonomic distribution of M. bororo, information relevant to the design of conservation programs. (AU)