Filogeografia e variação molecular de morcegos cavernícolas (Furipteridae Gray, 1866 e Natalidae Gray, 1866) com ênfase em táxons com ocorrência no Brasil

Abstract

Neotropical bats associated with rock crevices and caves are distributed in varied biomes, ecossystems and discontinued environments across karstic areas. Furipterus horrens and Natalus macrourus are insectivorous, cave-dweller/rupicolous bats distributed along the brasilian territory, and currently considered nacionally vulnerable to extinction and, hypothetically, both are strongly associated with day shelter. This study consists in species delimitation tests and analysis of evolutionary relationships between Natalids and Furipterus species, presenting molecular tests of populational structure and haplogroup distribution based on mtDNA (cytochrome B and COI). These taxa are, hypothetically, strong dependent of their shelter in karstic areas, which are distributed heterogeneously throughout the neotropics. In order to consider the relationship between lineages or populations, we used Bayesian population structure analysis and molecular variance, besides generating haplotype networks. As a means of testing species delimitation and evolutive boundaries of taxa and lineages, we performed Bayesian and maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis. Furipterus horrens were split into divergent lineages distributed in alopatry and also in sympatry, showing high population structure and low haplotype sharing. Considering Natalids’ analysis, Chilonatalus was recovered as sister-group of all Natalus. N. tumidirostris was recovered in parafiletism, in association with N. mexicanus. Besides, N. s. saturatus was recovered as synonymous of N. mexicanus, as shown in previous morphological studies. The population assessments of Natalus macrourus indicated a moderate population structure, with some shared haplotypes between geographically distant locations. The values of genetic divergence, phylogenetic and population analysis indicate, a priori, the occurrence of a single species for Brazil. Spatially, was not observed any isolation among the sampled populations. Molecular and diversity variation analysis in Natalus and Furipterus are pioneering, indicating the demand for this kind of evaluation, specially in taxa under antropic pressure. The information here presented allows for a better assessment of the preservation status of endangered species, for their conservation and management.