Phylogeography of the Neotropical sciurid Guerlinguetus brasiliensis (Rodentia: Sciuridae)

Abstract

Abstract The Brazilian squirrel Guerlinguetus brasiliensis is the only sciurid species occurring in the Atlantic Forest. We investigated the geographical distribution of the genetic diversity of this sciurid species across the Central Corridor of the Atlantic Forest, using two mitochondrial markers and one nuclear marker. We also inferred the demographic history and estimated the present and past habitat suitability for the species. We found strong mitochondrial DNA structure, possibly with both the Doce River and the valley of Paraíba do Sul River restricting gene flow between populations. The demography and ecological niche modelling highlighted a shared evolutionary history amongst several forest-dependent species in the Atlantic Forest. A pattern of isolation by distance was also found, revealing the low mobility and/or dispersal capacity of the species. Further data are required to disentangle exactly how past and/or recent habitat changes have affected population-level genetic diversity of G. brasiliensis.