CONSERVATION GENETICS OF THE ENDANGERED PAMPAS DEER (OZOTOCEROS-BEZOARTICUS)

The Pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus L. 1758) is the most endangere d neotropical cervid, and in the past occupied a wide range of open ha bitats including grassland, pampas, savanna, and cerrado (Brazil) from 5 degrees to 41 degrees S. To better understand the effect of habitat fragmentation on gene flow and genetic variation, and to uncover gene tic units for conservation, we examined DNA sequences from the mitocho ndrial control region of 54 individuals from six localities distribute d throughout the present geographical range of the Pampas deer. Our re sults suggest that the control region of the Pampas deer is one of the most polymorphic of any mammal. This remarkably high variability prob ably reflects large historic population sizes of millions of individua ls in contrast to numbers of fewer than 80 000 today. Gene flow betwee n populations is generally close to one migrant per generation and, wi th the exception of two populations from Argentina, all populations ar e significantly differentiated. The degree of gene flow was correlated with geographical distance between populations, a result consistent w ith limited dispersal being the primary determinant of genetic differe ntiation between populations. The molecular genetic results provide a mandate for habitat restoration and reintroduction of Pampas deer so t hat levels of genetic variation can be preserved and historic patterns of abundance can be reconstructed. However, the source of individuals for reintroduction generally should be from populations geographicall y closest to those now in danger of extinction.