Genetic variability and connectivity of the Mexican long-nosed bat based on microsatellites

Date

2019-05

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Abstract

Mexican long-nosed bats (Leptonycteris nivalis) are endangered, migratory nectarivores. It is important to assess genetic variability in endangered species, because genetic variability is generally associated with adaptive potential. I tested 43 microsatellite markers designed for related species to test their effectiveness in L. nivalis. Twelve loci developed for L. yerbabuenae and four for Glossophaga soricina amplified L. nivalis DNA, and of those 16 loci, seven loci from L. yerbabuenae were useful in genetic analyses. Genetic variation in L. nivalis was higher than expected for an endangered bat, yet comparable to other migratory bats. Also, there was no genetic differentiation in this species between the two of the most geographically segregated roost sites currently known. The level of variation detected in this species is encouraging for its future, but the suggested panmixia of this species implies the need for conserving migratory routes in addition to foraging and roosting habitat.

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Keywords

Conservation genetics, Mexican long-nosed bats, Microsatellites, Endangered, Leptonycteris nivalis, Genetic variation, Genetic connectivity, Big Bend National Park

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