DOI: 10.5061/dryad.cfxpnvx31
title: Identifying priority giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) populations for conservation in São Paulo State, Brazil

description: Habitat loss is the main threat to biodiversity conservation worldwide.
 Some species may be particularly susceptible to the effects of
 fragmentation and the isolation of populations. The impacts of human
 activity on wild animal populations may be understood through
 relationships between individual genetic data and spatial landscape
 variables, particularly when considering local population dynamics
 influenced by fragmented habitats. Thus, the objective of this study was
 to analyze the population structure and genetic diversity of the giant
 anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) using an individual sampling scheme
 (ISS) on a regional geographic scale. Data were collected from 41
 specimens from twenty different locations in São Paulo State, Brazil, and
 six polymorphic microsatellite loci were genotyped. Our results indicate
 that barriers to gene flow exist and have segregated individuals of the
 farther away areas into two spatially structured clusters. The
 populations were also found to have high genetic diversity. The
 experimental sampling approach used herein enabled an analysis of the
 population dynamics of the giant anteater on a regional
 scale, as well as the identification of priority populations for genetic
 resource conservation for this species. The results reflect the need for
 adequate management plans. The efficacy of the sampling scheme may vary
 based on the study model used, but we argue that the use of an ISS
 combined with suitable molecular markers and statistical methods may serve
 as an important tool for initial analyses of threatened or vulnerable
 species, particularly in anthropized regions where species populations are
 small or hard to characterize.
description: Six microsatellite fragments were used to analyze 41 individuals
 of Myrmecophaga tridactyla by capillary electrophoresis in São Paulo
 State, Brazil. Detailed information about the
 individuals is described in Table 1 (.pdf) containing the identification
 number, location of the capture, sex, occurrence, and geographic
 coordinates of each individual.
 <strong>Additional information:</strong>
 Capillary electrophoresis was performed on the 3500 Genetic
 Analyzer sequencer, and the Dye Set DS 33 - GeneScan 500 Liz was used for
 the combination of primers marked with 6-FAM, VIC, NED and PET and as a
 molecular weight marker, compatible with GeneScan 500 Liz (Applied
 Biosystems). The reactions of the six microsatellite
 markers were organized into two groups, based on the expected fragment
 sizes: The first group (Pool A) corresponds to the
 MrtiUSP04 (158bp), MtriUSP07 initiators (274 bp), MtriUSP11 (174 bp)
 marked with 6-FAM fluorophores respectively, PET and VIC, on the M13
 tail. In the second group (Pool B) are MtriUSP 13 (223
 bp), MtriUSP 17 (191 bp), and MtriUSP20 (157 bp) marked respectively by
 fluorescent M13 tail, also with 6-FAM, PET, and VIC
 fluorophores. All deposited genotype files are raw data
 files (.fsa). The genotype files (.fsa) are named with
 the individual identification number (as described in Table 1), and the
 corresponding pool of markers (as described herein in additional
 information).
description: The results are reproducible, by using the information/files
 deposited herein and applying the methods/settings described in the
 manuscript. All pieces of information are on section
 "Methods".