Estrutura populacional e filogeografia de Panulirus argus (Latreille, 1804)

Panulirus argus (Latreille, 1804) é uma das principais espécies de lagosta no Atlântico, sendo um dos maiores recursos pesqueiros do Atlântico Ocidental, onde apresenta um alto valor comercial. A forte explotação da espécie resulta em uma grande pressão sobre suas populações. Recentemente, foi descoberto que sob o binômio P. argus estão contidas duas espécies crípticas que ocorrem em alopatria, uma na região do Caribe e outra na costa brasileira. Esta tese tem como objetivo estudar como se estruturam geneticamente as populações dessas duas espécies, com o propósito de fornecer mais informações para a determinação de estoques e um correto manejo das espécies, e analisar os processos históricos evolutivos que moldaram suas histórias demográficas. Para tal, foram estudados dois marcadores mitocondriais (região controle e o gene da Citocromo Oxidase I) e loci de microssatélites de indivíduos de 7 regiões do Caribe (Florida, Bahamas, Turks e Caicos, Porto Rico, Cuba, Colômbia e Venezuela) e 11 estados do Brasil (Pará, Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Bahia, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro e São Paulo). Dentro de cada espécie foram observadas duas linhagens mitocondriais diferentes, que co-ocorriam, de maneira homogênea, ao longo de suas distribuições. Hipotetiso que essas linhagens foram formadas a partir de um evento de vicariância com contato secundário ou como consequência de um efeito gargalo seguido de expansão. As duas linhagens são evidentes nas sequências da região controle mitocondrial, mas no gene da COI foram evidentes apenas em P. cf. argus do Caribe. As linhagens do Brasil se separaram há aproximadamente 233 - 288 mil anos e cada uma sofreu expansão em tempos diferentes, a primeira se expandiu há 100 mil anos e a segunda linhagem há 50 mil anos. As linhagens do Caribe se separaram cerca de 1 milhão de anos atrás e possuem o mesmo tempo de expansão, 50 mil anos. Os microssatélites não revelaram subdivisão populacional para nenhuma das duas espécies, porém os marcadores, juntos, sugeriram um fluxo gênico diferenciado entre localidades expostas a diferentes correntes marítimas. Considerando que essas lagostas são intensamente explotadas, é importante ser cuidadoso no momento de definir estoques pesqueiros. Para a espécie do Brasil, dois estoques pesqueiros foram sugeridos, o primeiro do Pará à Bahia e o segundo do sul da Bahia a São Paulo. Para a espécie do Caribe, foi mantida e reforçada a hipótese de quatro estoques sugerida pela FAO (Norte, Sul, Centro-Norte e Centro-Sul).

香港地区湍蛙遗传多样性研究

依据线粒体上ND2和CO1两个变异较大的基因序列分析了香港地区香港湍蛙7种群、华南湍蛙1种群，以及大陆其他地区华南湍蛙7种群，戴云湍蛙1种群，武夷湍蛙1种群的系统发育关系，进而探讨香港湍蛙的遗传多样性、香港湍蛙特有性、如何确定香港湍蛙最佳保护单元以及这四种湍蛙的物种分类地位。 1． 香港湍蛙保护遗传学研究 香港湍蛙核苷酸传多样性较低，从其遗传多样性信息、单倍型网络分析、中性检验值以及岐点分布结果一致显示香港湍蛙很可能经历了瓶颈后的扩张，种群正在由一个较小的有效种群大小迅速增长, 有足够的时间通过变异用于积累单倍型的多态性, 而对于提高核苷酸多样化而言, 时间尚短（Nei M et al，1975，Avise J C，2000；李明等，2003）。 分子变异分析结果显示香港湍蛙种群间存在较多的基因交流，且系统发育树上各种群间交叉在一起，没有形成与地理单元相关的分支，而从其单倍型网络看，他们源于共同的祖先，是一个单系群，与地理单元间没有形成显著的遗传分化。因此应作为一个进化显著单元（ESU）。结合其与其他湍蛙发育关系及遗传距离以及野外采集信息认为香港湍蛙只在香港地区有分布，属于香港特有种。该物种内遗传多样性较低，又属于世界自然保护联盟红皮书中的近危种，同时也是《野生动物保护条例》中的受保护野生动物，且由于香港城市建设等使得其栖息环境受到威胁，因此在香港特别行政区应该受到重点保护。 从单倍型分布和核苷酸多样性可以看出大榄涌种群和城门种群具有较高的单倍型多样性和核苷酸多样性，应该作为保护的重点区域。 2. 华南湍蛙东、南沿海种群间系统关系 华南湍蛙分布广，各种群存在着丰富的遗传多样性信息且中部种群广西龙胜和湖南张家界种群核苷酸多样性明显高于其他边缘种群华南湍蛙。种群间几乎没有基因交流，且各种群间无共享单倍型，可见已形成了显著的遗传分化。各种群间遗传距离都较远，其中广东南昆山种群以及福建三港种群与其他种群距离最远，因此可以推测其他种群（广东深圳、香港大屿山、广西龙胜和防城以及湖南张家界种群）可能为独立进化的种群。但是否是一新种或一隐存种，还需要结合形态学进行更深入的研究。 本研究中无论从系统关系看还是从遗传距离看，大屿山种群与深圳种群最近，支持陈坚峰等将其定为华南湍蛙，即华南湍蛙新增一个分布点：香港大屿山。 系统树上广西防城种群（支B）与龙胜和湖南种群（支A）形成姐妹群。香港大屿山种群与深圳种群先形成姐妹群（支C），但却没有与其距离很近的广东南岭及南昆山种群（支D）形成姐妹群，可能粤北和粤中的环境及气候较复杂因此与粤南其他种群形成了明显的隔离。同时可以看出华南湍蛙种群遗传分化与地理距离没有显著的相关性。 3. 四种湍蛙间的系统关系 根据线粒体CO1基因建立四种湍蛙间的系统关系及其遗传距离，很清楚地看到，香港湍蛙与戴云湍蛙关系很近，而华南湍蛙则与武夷湍蛙较近。然而，戴云湍蛙同一个种群内部共有两个单倍型DY1和DY2，且两个单倍型间遗传距离大于DY1与香港湍蛙间遗传距离，更远远大于香港湍蛙种群内部的距离，即戴云湍蛙内部两个单倍型间遗传距离达到了种级水平，同样在系统发育树上这两个单倍型与香港湍蛙形成并系。但是，戴云湍蛙种内在形态上差异不显著。因此，其是否属于萌芽物种分化形成（budding speciation）或已经完全分化为两个不同的种值得进一步研究？ 与戴云湍蛙香港湍蛙关系类似，从系统树上看华南湍蛙不形成单系，而是分成两个大支，与武夷湍蛙形成并系，且福建和南昆山的华南湍蛙与武夷湍蛙遗传距离远大于武夷湍蛙种内福建种群与浙江种群的遗传距离，达到了种级分化水平。由此，可以推断武夷湍蛙是有效种。系统树上广东深圳、香港大屿山、广西防城和龙胜以及湖南张家界种群与华南湍蛙福建及南昆山各种群间遗传距离已超出了种内各种群间的遗传距离，但是至于这一支是否应为另外一个种，有必要扩大采样，并结合核基因及形态信息进行进一步研究。 MtDNA of ND2 and CO1 gene were used to investigate genetic diversity of Amolops in Hongkong .We collected seven populations of A. hongkongensis,，one population of A.ricketti from Hong Kong and other seven populations of A.ricketti from East and South of Chinese mainland. As well as one population of A. daiyunensis and one population of A.wuyiensis Phylogenetic relationship were analyzed of four species. Discussed whether A.hongkongensis is an endemic species and how can we make the conservation and management decisions. 1. Conservation Genetics of A. hongkongensis A. hongkongensis has a low nucleotide diversity, the results of genetic diversity, haplotype network, neutrality test and the mismatch distributions indicate that A. hongkongensis experienced a recent expansion after a bottle neck. They had enough time to accumulated haplotype diversity, but it’s too short to have a high nucleotide diversity（Nei M et al，1975，Avise J C，2000；Li et al，2003）. The result of AMOVA reveals that it has much gene exchange among the populations of A. hongkongensis. The clades of the phylogenetic tree were mixed together, no significant genetic differentiation among 8 populations and they share the same ancestor from the network analysis, these indicate that they are monophyly and should be protected as one ESU. Combined with the information of relationships of interspecies, genetic distance and distribution investigate, We conclude that A. hongkongensis is an endemic species of Hong Kong. Considering on the status of low genetic diversity in A.hongkongensis, and this species was listed in the IUCN red list as near threatened, as well as listed in the . Furthermore, it’s habitat loss and degradation more rapidly as the human activity got higher and higher. So it’s urgent to protect them in Hong Kong. Our results suggest that Tai Lam Wu and TAI MO Shan -Shing Mun populations have the higher priority to be protected because their higher genetic diversity. 2．Phylogenetic relationships among populations of Amolops ricketti from the Southern and eastern China A. ricketti has the considerable genetic diversity of mitochondrial haplotypes within and among populations, and Mitochondrial DNA diversity was higher in populations at the central area of the present distribution range of the frog，i. e. the Longsheng population and Zhangjiajie population, than at the edges of their distribution range. They have no share haplotype among populations, and have a significant genetic differentiation. Genetic distance is high among the populations, especially the distance of Nankun and Sangang group with others, which suggested that they evolved independently. May be there is a cryptic species or a new species, a further study is needed. The results of gene tree and the genetic distance clearly demonstrate that the population from LanTau island is A. ricketti, so we agree with Chen et al(2005) . That means A.ricketti have a new distribution site: LanTau island, HongKong. Phylogenetic relationships were analyzed through NJ and Mrbayes methods and got a consistent topological structure, the structure indicated that the ingroup were comprised four groups. Populations Longsheng and Zhangjiajie were first clustered as clade A; Populations Fangcheng was clustered together (clade B) as a sister group to clade A；Populations Shenzhen and Lantau island were sister groups and clustered as clade C；Then the clade D included populations Nankunshan and Nanling in Guangdong province and Sangang in Fujian province. 3. Phylogenetic Relationships among these four specises Phylogenetic relationships based on 1503bp CO1 gene and the genetic distance show that A. hongkongensis close to A. daiyunensis whereas A.ricketti near to A.wuyiensis. Nevertheless, there are two haplotypes in A.daiyunensis and the genetic distance between them higher than the distance between DY1 with A. hongkongensis. A. hongkongensis is nested in the paraphyletic ancestral species A. daiyunensis. Without significant difference in the morphological characters, So, we considered both A.daiyunensis and A.hongkongensis are valid species, may be this represents a case of ‘budding speciation’ like Batrachuperus pinchonii(Fu and Zeng,2008) in the population of A. daiyunensis. Just like two species above A. wuyiensis and A. ricketti are not monophyly, instead, A.wuyiensis is nested in the paraphyletic ancestral species A.ricketti. We need do more research to make sure whether they are new species.

Calyptostoma velutinum (Müller, 1776) (Acari, Actinotrichida, Parasitengona) s. lato na tle Calyptostomatoidea świata

Wydział Biologii i Hodowli Zwierząt Uniwersytet Przyrodniczy we Wrocławiu

Structure, function, and phylogeny of the mating locus in the Rhizopus oryzae complex.

The Rhizopus oryzae species complex is a group of zygomycete fungi that are common, cosmopolitan saprotrophs. Some strains are used beneficially for production of Asian fermented foods but they can also act as opportunistic human pathogens. Although R. oryzae reportedly has a heterothallic (+/-) mating system, most strains have not been observed to undergo sexual reproduction and the genetic structure of its mating locus has not been characterized. Here we report on the mating behavior and genetic structure of the mating locus for 54 isolates of the R. oryzae complex. All 54 strains have a mating locus similar in overall organization to Phycomyces blakesleeanus and Mucor circinelloides (Mucoromycotina, Zygomycota). In all of these fungi, the minus (-) allele features the SexM high mobility group (HMG) gene flanked by an RNA helicase gene and a TP transporter gene (TPT). Within the R. oryzae complex, the plus (+) mating allele includes an inserted region that codes for a BTB/POZ domain gene and the SexP HMG gene. Phylogenetic analyses of multiple genes, including the mating loci (HMG, TPT, RNA helicase), ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rDNA, RPB2, and LDH genes, identified two distinct groups of strains. These correspond to previously described sibling species R. oryzae sensu stricto and R. delemar. Within each species, discordant gene phylogenies among multiple loci suggest an outcrossing population structure. The hypothesis of random-mating is also supported by a 50:50 ratio of plus and minus mating types in both cryptic species. When crossed with tester strains of the opposite mating type, most isolates of R. delemar failed to produce zygospores, while isolates of R. oryzae produced sterile zygospores. In spite of the reluctance of most strains to mate in vitro, the conserved sex locus structure and evidence for outcrossing suggest that a normal sexual cycle occurs in both species.

Investigation of benthic community change over a century-wide scale in the western English Channel

Since the early part of the 20th Century the impact of a range of anthropogenic activities in our coastal seas has steadily increased. The effect of such activities is a major cause for concern but in the benthic environment few studies exist that date back more than a few decades. Hence understanding long term changes is a challenge. Within this study we utilized a historic benthic dataset and resurveyed an area west of Eddystone reef in the English Channel previously investigated 112 years ago. The aim of the present work was to describe the current benthic community structure and investigate potential differences between 1895 and 2007. For each of the four major phyla investigated (Polychaeta, Crustacea, Mollusca and Echinodermata), multivariate community analysis showed significant differences between the historic and contemporary surveys. Echinoderm diversity showed a clear reduction between 1895 and 2007. The sea urchins Echinus esculentus, Spatangus purpureus, and Psammechinus miliaris and large star-fish Marthasterias glacialis showed reductions in abundance, in some cases being entirely absent from the survey area in 2007. Polychaetes showed a shift from tubiculous species to small errant and predatory species such as Glycera, Nephtys, and Lumbrineris spp. Within the group Mollusca large species such as Pecten maximus and Laevicardium crassum decreased in abundance while small species increased. Crustaceans in 1895 were dominated by crab species which were present in similar abundances in 2007, but, the order Amphipoda appeared to show a significant increase. While some of the differences observed could stem from differences in methodologies between the surveys, in particular increases of small cryptic species, the loss of large conspicuous species was judged to be genuine. The study area is an important beam trawling and scallop dredging ground; the differences observed are concomitant with changes generally associated with disturbance from demersal fishing activities such as these.

Looking backwards to look forwards: the role of natural history in temperate reef ecology

Temperate reefs are superb tractable systems for testing hypotheses in ecology and evolutionary biology. Accordingly there is a rich history of research stretching back over 100 years, which has made major contributions to general ecological and evolutionary theory as well as providing better understanding of how littoral systems work by linking pattern with process. A brief resumé of the history of temperate reef ecology is provided to celebrate this rich heritage. As a community, temperate reef ecologists generally do well designed experiments and test well formulated hypotheses. Increasingly large datasets are being collected, collated and subjected to complex meta-analyses and used for modelling. These datasets do not happen spontaneously – the burgeoning subject of macroecology is possible only because of the efforts of dedicated natural historians whether it be observing birds, butterflies, or barnacles. High-quality natural history and old-fashioned field craft enable surveys or experiments to be stratified (i.e. replicates are replicates and not a random bit of rock) and lead to the generation of more insightful hypotheses. Modern molecular approaches have led to the discovery of cryptic species and provided phylogeographical insights, but natural history is still required to identify species in the field. We advocate a blend of modern approaches with old school skills and a fondness for temperate reefs in all their splendour.

Tracking biological invasions in space and time: elucidating the invasive history of the green alga Codium fragile using old DNA

With the advent of 'ancient DNA' studies on preserved material of extant and extinct species, museums and herbaria now represent an important although still underutilized resource in molecular ecology. The ability to obtain sequence data from archived specimens can reveal the recent history of cryptic species and introductions. We have analysed extant and herbarium samples of the highly invasive green alga Codium fragile, many over 100 years old, to identify cryptic accessions of the invasive strain known as C. fragile ssp. tomentosoides, which can be identified by a unique haplotype. Molecular characterization of specimens previously identified as native in various regions shows that the invasive tomentosoides strain has been colonizing new habitats across the world for longer than records indicate, in some cases nearly 100 years before it was noticed. It can now be found in the ranges of all the other native haplotypes detected, several of which correspond to recognized subspecies. Within regions in the southern hemisphere there was a greater diversity of haplotypes than in the northern hemisphere, probably as a result of dispersal by the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. The findings of this study highlight the importance of herbaria in preserving contemporaneous records of invasions as they occur, especially when invasive taxa are cryptic.

Systematics and evolution of coastal and deepwater Hydrozoa from the NE Atlantic

The study of the Portuguese Hydrozoa fauna has been abandoned for more than half a century, except for the Azores archipelago. One of the main aims of this Ph.D. project was to contribute new hydrozoan records leading to a more accurate perception of the actual hydrozoan diversity found in Portuguese waters, including the archipelagos of Azores and Madeira, and neighbouring geographical areas, for habitats ranging from the deep sea to the intertidal. Shallow water hydroids from several Portuguese marine regions (including the Gorringe Bank) were sampled by scuba-diving. Deep-water hydroids, from the Azores, Madeira, Gulf of Cadiz and Alboran Sea, were collected by researchers of different institutions during several oceanographic campaigns. Occasional hydroid sampling by scuba-diving was performed in the UK, Malta and Spain. Over 300 hydroid species were identified and about 600 sequences of the hydrozoan ‘DNA barcode’ 16S mRNA were generated. The families Sertulariidae, Plumulariidae, Lafoeidae, Hebellidae, Aglaopheniidae, Campanulinidae, Halopterididae, Kirchenpaueriidae, Haleciidae and Eudendriidae, were studied in greater detail. About 350 16S sequences were generated for these taxa, allowing phylogenetic, phylogeographic and evolutionary inferences, and also more accurate taxonomic identifications. Phylogenetic analyses integrated molecular and morphological characters. Subsequent results revealed: particularly high levels of cryptic biodiversity, polyphyly in many taxonomic groups, pairs of species that were synonymous, the identity of several varieties as valid species, and highlighted phylogeographic associations of hydroids in deep and shallow-water areas of the NE Atlantic and W Mediterranean. It was proved that many (but not all) marine hydroid species with supposedly widespread vertical and/or horizontal geographical distributions, correspond in fact to complexes of cryptic taxa. This study further revealed that, in the NE Atlantic, shallow environments sustain higher hydrozoan diversity and abundance, but the importance of bathyal habitats as a source of phylogenetic diversity was also revealed. The Azorean seamounts were shown to be particularly important in the segregation of populations of hydroids with reduced dispersive potential. The bathyal habitats of the Gulf of Cadiz proved to harbour a considerably high number of cryptic species, which may mainly be a consequence of habitat heterogeneity and convergence of various water masses in the Gulf. The main causes proposed for speciation and population divergence of hydroids were: species population size, dispersal mechanisms and plasticity to inhabit different environmental conditions, but also the influence of oceanic currents (and its properties), habitat heterogeneity, climate change and continental drift. Higher phylogenetic resolution obtained for the family Plumulariidae revealed particularly that glacial cycles likely facilitated population divergence, ultimately speciation, and also faunal evolutionary transitions from deep to shallow waters.

Molecular epidemiology of Aspergillus collected from cystic fibrosis patients

Background - Aspergillus respiratory infection is a common complication in cystic fibrosis (CF) and is associated with loss of pulmonary function and allergic disease. Methods - Fifty-three Aspergillus isolates recovered from CF patients were identified to species by Internal Transcribed Spacer Region (ITS), β-tubulin, and calmodulin sequencing. Results - Three species complexes (Terrei, Nigri, and Fumigati) were found. Identification to species level gave a single Aspergillus terreus sensu stricto, one Aspergillus niger sensu stricto and 51 Aspergillus fumigatus sensu stricto isolates. No cryptic species were found. Conclusions - To our knowledge, this is the first prospective study of Aspergillus species in CF using molecular methods. The paucity of non-A. fumigatus and of cryptic species of A. fumigatus suggests a special association of A. fumigatus sensu stricto with CF airways, indicating it likely displays unique characteristics making it suitable for chronic residence in that milieu. These findings could refine an epidemiologic and therapeutic approach geared to this pathogen.

Molecular genetic differentiation in earthworms inhabiting a heterogeneous Pb-polluted landscape

A Pb-mine site situated on acidic soil, but comprising of Ca-enriched islands around derelict buildings was used to study the spatial pattern of genetic diversity in Lumbricus rubellus. Two distinct genetic lineages ('A' and 'B'), differentiated at both the mitochondrial (mtDNA COII) and nuclear level (AFLPs) were revealed with a mean inter-lineage mtDNA sequence divergence of approximately 13%, indicative of a cryptic species complex. AFLP analysis indicates that lineage A individuals within one central 'ecological island' site are uniquely clustered, with little genetic overlap with lineage A individuals at the two peripheral sites. FTIR microspectroscopy of Pb-sequestering chloragocytes revealed different phosphate profiles in residents of adjacent acidic and calcareous islands. Bioinformatics found over-representation of Ca pathway genes in ESTPb libraries. Subsequent sequencing of a Ca-transport gene, SERCA, revealed mutations in the protein's cytosolic domain. We recommend the mandatory genotyping of all individuals prior to field-based ecotoxicological assays, particularly those using discriminating genomic technologies.

High-throughput monitoring of wild bee diversity and abundance via mitogenomics

1. Bee populations and other pollinators face multiple, synergistically acting threats, which have led to population declines, loss of local species richness and pollination services, and extinctions. However, our understanding of the degree, distribution and causes of declines is patchy, in part due to inadequate monitoring systems, with the challenge of taxonomic identification posing a major logistical barrier. Pollinator conservation would benefit from a high-throughput identification pipeline. 2. We show that the metagenomic mining and resequencing of mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomics) can be applied successfully to bulk samples of wild bees. We assembled the mitogenomes of 48 UK bee species and then shotgun-sequenced total DNA extracted from 204 whole bees that had been collected in 10 pan-trap samples from farms in England and been identified morphologically to 33 species. Each sample data set was mapped against the 48 reference mitogenomes. 3. The morphological and mitogenomic data sets were highly congruent. Out of 63 total species detections in the morphological data set, the mitogenomic data set made 59 correct detections (93�7% detection rate) and detected six more species (putative false positives). Direct inspection and an analysis with species-specific primers suggested that these putative false positives were most likely due to incorrect morphological IDs. Read frequency significantly predicted species biomass frequency (R2 = 24�9%). Species lists, biomass frequencies, extrapolated species richness and community structure were recovered with less error than in a metabarcoding pipeline. 4. Mitogenomics automates the onerous task of taxonomic identification, even for cryptic species, allowing the tracking of changes in species richness and istributions. A mitogenomic pipeline should thus be able to contain costs, maintain consistently high-quality data over long time series, incorporate retrospective taxonomic revisions and provide an auditable evidence trail. Mitogenomic data sets also provide estimates of species counts within samples and thus have potential for tracking population trajectories.

The hidden diversity of Coleodactylus amazonicus (Sphaerodactylinae, Gekkota) revealed by molecular data

Coleodactylus amazonicus, a small leaf-litter diurnal gecko widely distributed in Amazon Basin has been, considered a single species with no significant morphological differences between populations along its range. A recent molecular study, however, detected large genetic differences between populations of central Amazonia and those in the easternmost part of the Amazon Basin, suggesting the presence of taxonomically unrecognised diversity. In this study, DNA sequences of three mitochondrial (165, cytb, and ND4) and two nuclear genes (RAG-1, c-mos) were used to investigate whether the species currently identified as C. amazonicus contains morphologically cryptic species lineages. The present phylogenetic analysis reveals further genetic subdivision including at least five potential species lineages, restricted to northeastern (lineage A), southeastern (lineage B), central-northern (lineage E) and central-southern (lineages C and D) parts of Amazon Basin. All clades are characterized by exclusive groups of alleles for both nuclear genes and highly divergent mitochondrial haplotype clades, with corrected pairwise net sequence divergence between sister lineages ranging from 9.1% to 20.7% for the entire mtDNA dataset. Results of this study suggest that the real diversity of ""C. amazonicus"" has been underestimated due to its apparent cryptic diversification. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The surprising evolutionary history of South American deer

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Identification of the endangered small red brocket deer (Mazama bororo) using noninvasive genetic techniques (Mammalia; Cervidae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Non invasive methods for genetic analysis applied to ecological and behavioral studies in Latino-America

Documenting the presence and abundance of the neotropical mammals is the first step for understanding their population ecology, behavior and genetic dynamics in designing conservation plans. The combination of field research with molecular genetics techniques are new tools that provide valuable biological information avoiding the disturbance in the ecosystems, trying to minimize the human impact in the process to gather biological information. The objective of this paper is to review the available non invasive sampling techniques that have been used in Neotropical mammal studies to apply to determine the presence and abundance, population structure, sex ratio, taxonomic diagnostic using mitochondrial markers, and assessing genetic variability using nuclear markers. There are a wide range of non invasive sampling techniques used to determine the species identification that inhabit an area such as searching for tracks, feces, and carcasses. Other useful equipment is the camera traps that can generate an image bank that can be valuable to assess species presence and abundance by morphology. With recent advances in molecular biology, it is now possible to use the trace amounts of DNA in feces and amplify it to analyze the species diversity in an area, and the genetic variability at intraspecific level. This is particularly helpful in cases of sympatric and cryptic species in which morphology failed to diagnose the taxonomic status of several species of brocket deer of the genus Mazama.