Influence of anthropogenic pressure on the genetic diversity and chromosomal instability of an endangered forest-specialist anuran

• Published in: Hydrobiologia Vol. 849; no. 11; pp. 2463 - 2475
• Main Authors: Getelina, M. A., Schwantes, J. B., Graichen, D. A. S., Schuch, A. P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01-06-2022; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Amphibians; Analysis; Anthropogenic factors; Aquatic reptiles; Biological diversity; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cells; Chromosome aberrations; Chromosomes; Cytogenetics; Deforestation; Ecology; Endangered species; Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; Forests; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Frogs; Genetic diversity; Genetic variability; Genetic variation; Genomic instability; Genotoxic chemicals; Genotoxicity; Human influences; Landscape; Life Sciences; Mitochondria; Mucosa; Populations; Primary Research Paper; Protection and preservation; Rain forests; Rainforests; Rare species; Reptiles & amphibians; Threatened species; Tyrosinase; Vertebrates; Zoology; Atlantic Forest; Genetic variability; Habitat loss; DNA damage; Amphibian decline
• ISSN: 0018-8158; 1573-5117
• DOI: 10.1007/s10750-022-04840-w

Deforestation leads to changes in the landscape, which can isolate and decrease the size of populations affecting their structure and genetic variability. Additionally, it can increase the frequency of chromosomal damage due to exposure to genotoxic agents present in the environment. Among vertebrates, amphibians are the most threatened taxonomic group, especially forest-specialist species. Our work aimed to assess the impact of deforestation on landscape, as well as in the genetic diversity and genomic instability of populations of the amphibian species
Crossodactylus schmidti
Gallardo, 1961, which is restricted to well-preserved stream environments in the Atlantic rainforest in southern Brazil. Sampling of oral mucosa cells was carried out in four different forest areas. We analyzed a total of 200 sequences of two mitochondrial (
COI
and
16S
) and one nuclear gene (
Tyrosinase
), as well as 1000 oral mucosa cells per individual through cytogenetic analyses. Our results clearly indicate that all forest areas analyzed in this work are important for the genetic diversity and maintenance of these populations in the landscape, regardless of size. However, the largest area has the major role as disperser of genetic diversity, highlighting the importance of conservation units and large forest areas for the persistence of endangered forest-specialist amphibian species.