Análise da variabilidade genética e estudo populacional de Antilophia bokermanni (Aves: Pipridae) com implicações para sua conservação

Abstract

The Araripe Manakin Antilophia bokermanni (Passeriformes, Pipridae) is the most threatened member of this family, and is classified as “critically endangered”. With an estimated population of only 800 individuals, this species is endemic to a small area (approximately 30 km²) of forest on the slopes of the Araripe Plateau in northeastern Brazil. The urgent need for the implementation of an effective conservation program for the Araripe Manakin has stimulated intensive research into various aspects of its biology. In the present study, we examined sequence variation in segments of the mtDNA and ncDNA in specimens of A. bokermanni and A. galeata. The current analysis provides no evidence for population substructuring nor for a history of population expansion of A. bokermanni. The genetic variability is slightly reduced in comparison with its sister species, but their similarity indicates a relatively recent process of separation, indicated by retention of ancestral polymorphisms (incomplete lineage sorting) all markers. We also did not detect any association between plumage variation and nucleotide variation at MC1R in genus Antilophia. This study represents a contribution of genetics to the Conservation Plan of Araripe Manakin (Antilophia bokermanni).