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Taxonomic identification of dolphin love charms commercialized in the Amazonian region through the analysis of cytochrome b DNA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 March 2008

Thais Guimarães Corrêa Sholl*
Affiliation:
Grupo de Estudos de Mamíferos Marinhos da Região dos Lagos (GEMM-Lagos), Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública/FIOCRUZ, Rua Leopoldo Bulhões, 1480-térreo, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21041-210, Brazil
Fabrícia Ferreira do Nascimento
Affiliation:
Room 505, R.M.C. Gunn Building B19. Centre for Advanced Technologies in Animal Genetics and Reproduction (REPROGEN) Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
Orilio Leoncini
Affiliation:
Divisão de Genética, Instituto Nacional de Câncer, Rua André Cavalcante 37, 4° andar, Centro, RJ, 20231-050, Brazil
Cibele Rodrigues Bonvicino
Affiliation:
Divisão de Genética, Instituto Nacional de Câncer, Rua André Cavalcante 37, 4° andar, Centro, RJ, 20231-050, Brazil Laboratório de Biologia e Parasitologia de Mamíferos Reservatórios, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/FIOCRUZ, Av. Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21040-900, Brazil
Salvatore Siciliano
Affiliation:
Grupo de Estudos de Mamíferos Marinhos da Região dos Lagos (GEMM-Lagos), Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública/FIOCRUZ, Rua Leopoldo Bulhões, 1480-térreo, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21041-210, Brazil
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Thais Guimarães Corrêa Sholl, Grupo de Estudos de Mamíferos Morinhos da Região dos, Lagos (GEMM-Lagos), Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública/FIOCRUZ, Rua Leopolda Bulhões, 1480-térreo, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21041-210, Brazil email: thaisholl@yahoo.com.br

Abstract

Previous studies identified the Amazon river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) as the species frequently traded in public markets of Pará and Amazonas State (Brazil). In order to investigate the geographic origin and the taxonomic identification of these specimens we analysed 21 samples provided by residents of the city of Belém and vicinities (Pará State, Brazil), presumably purchased in the ‘Ver-o-Peso’ Market (Belém) or the Manaus Municipal Market. DNA was extracted from dehydrated genitalia or from genitalia conserved in alcohol and the cytochrome b gene was PCR-amplified. Phylogenetic analyses showed identical topologies in both MP and NJ trees, with Sotalia splitting into two groups, one clade comprising the estuarine dolphin (S. guianensis) and all eight haplotypes from market-samples and another one, comprising the tucuxi (S. fluviatilis) haplotypes from the GenBank. Our findings indicated that the marine species is under a stronger commercial pressure than the Amazonian river dolphin (I. geoffrensis) and the tucuxi (S. fluviatilis) in the region. Therefore population dynamic studies as well as population monitoring should be carried out in order to evaluate the effects of this commercial hunting on the species and its local populations. The marine dolphins have been incidentally captured in gill-nets in the region, suggesting that these activities must also be monitored at the same time that social programmes must be implemented in order to inform and clarify local community and people involved in fishery activity to avoid that more animals might be captured and killed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2008

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