Browsing by Author "Medina-Vogel, Gonzalo"

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    Domestic dog and alien North American mink as reservoirs of infectious diseases in the endangered Southern river otter
    (2022) Barros, Macarena; Pons, Daniel J.; Moreno, Andrea; Vianna, Juliana; Ramos, Barbara; Duenas, Fernando; Coccia, Cristina; Saavedra-Rodriguez, Roberto; Santibanez, Alexis; Medina-Vogel, Gonzalo
    Introduced alien carnivores are host to infectious diseases that may become an important threat for native carnivore species conservation. Canine distemper virus (CDV) is thought to be transmitted among individuals by direct contact and to present viral dynamics associated with a density-dependent multi-host carnivore community. In contrast, Canine Parvovirus (CPV) is mostly transmitted by indirect contact and does not depend only on the density, but also on the social behaviour of infected as well as susceptible hosts. The objective of this study was to assess how introduced American mink (Neovison vison) can act as a bridge-host between domestic dog (Canis familiaris) and Southern river otter (Lontra provocax) in different dog and mink population density scenarios. Our data show that otters are seropositive to both CDV and PV, as well as a molecular identity to Parvovirus in dogs and minks. Furthermore, a strong positive correlation between dog population density and observed seroprevalence of CDV in dogs, minks, and otters was recorded. For Parvovirus, the observed seroprevalence in mink and otters was not correlated to a higher dog population density, but instead a relationship between dog and mink population densities and social behaviour. Our results suggest that introduced American mink and domestic dogs are reservoirs of CDV and PV, both being diseases of major importance for the conservation of native endangered carnivores in Patagonia.
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    Genetic structure of introduced American mink (Neovison vison) in Patagonia : colonisation insights and implications for control and management strategies
    (2018) Mora, Mónica; Medina-Vogel, Gonzalo; Sepúlveda, Maximiliano A.; Noll, Daly; Álvarez Varas, Rocío; De Abreu, Vianna Juliana
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    Phylogeography of the Marine Otter (Lontra felina): Historical and Contemporary Factors Determining Its Distribution
    (2010) Vianna, Juliana A.; Ayerdi, Paula; Medina-Vogel, Gonzalo; Mangel, Jeffrey C.; Zeballos, Horacio; Apaza, Manuel; Faugeron, Sylvain
    The evolutionary history of a species can be revealed by phylogeographical analysis; nevertheless, not only historical but also contemporary processes can imprint on the distribution of genetic diversity. We report on the phylogeny of Lontra ssp. in South America, and the role of spatial heterogeneity in shaping the distribution and population structure of the endangered marine otter, Lontra felina. Analyzing a total of 2261 bp of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) revealed the recent divergence of L. felina from L. provocax. A strong population structure (Phi(st) = 0.83, P < 0.0001) and a significant pattern of isolation by distance were described for L. felina (n = 168) across a wide geographical distribution (13 degrees 53'S to 43 degrees 36'S). Lontra felina mtDNA phylogeny is composed of 2 main clades: a clade from Peru and another composed of Chilean haplotypes. Northern populations show different divergent lineages and higher genetic diversity when compared with more recently colonized southern populations. Furthermore, long sandy beaches seem to act as barriers to dispersal, creating 2 evolutionary significant units in agreement with subspecies previous description, and at least 5 different management units (MUs). At a fine spatial scale, the size of rocky seashore patches, the distance between patches and anthropogenic factors also play important roles in species gene flow.
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    Phylogeography of the Patagonian otter Lontra provocax: adaptive divergence to marine habitat or signature of southern glacial refugia?
    (2011) Vianna, Juliana A.; Medina-Vogel, Gonzalo; Chehebar, Claudio; Sielfeld, Walter; Olavarria, Carlos; Faugeron, Sylvain
    Background: A number of studies have described the extension of ice cover in western Patagonia during the Last Glacial Maximum, providing evidence of a complete cover of terrestrial habitat from 41 degrees S to 56 degrees S and two main refugia, one in south-eastern Tierra del Fuego and the other north of the Chilo, Island. However, recent evidence of high genetic diversity in Patagonian river species suggests the existence of aquatic refugia in this region. Here, we further test this hypothesis based on phylogeographic inferences from a semi-aquatic species that is a top predator of river and marine fauna, the huillin or Southern river otter (Lontra provocax).