Variabilidade genética e verificação de paternidade da colônia cativa do mico-leão-preto (Leontopithecus chrysopygus) (Primates, Callithricidae) utilizando marcadores microssatélites

Abstract

The main goal of any captive breeding program consists is maximizing the conservation of genetic diversity. Groups kept in captivity are particularly susceptible to the loss of genetic diversity, inbreeding depression and adaptation to captivity, due to their small size. The genetic characterization of wild and captive populations is an important tool both to minimize these impacts and for the conservation of these species, since it enables the development of management strategies aimed at maintenance of genetic diversity. In this context, the main objective of the study was to evaluate genetic variability and paternity for animals of black lion tamarin from Centro de Primatología do Rio de Janeiro, Fundacão Parque Zoológico de Sao Paulo, Parque Ecológico de Sao Carlos and 14 specimen belonging to the Durrell Conservation Trust in England using 15 microsatellite loci. The results of the allelic richness and expected heterozygosity showed similar values of alleles numbers and heterozygosity when compared with other species of Callitrichidae. Factorial correspondence analysis (FCA) showed greater homogeneity among captive animals than wild animals from Capão Bonito. The captive groups showed no differentiation among them and high differentiation from the wild Capão Bonito population. The data obtained herein are fundamental to increase the knowledge in genetic aspects of tamarins and support breeding programs to prevent loss of genetic diversity and inbreeding.