Aim Our aim was to determine the combined impacts of Pleistocene climatic oscillations and glacial periods with recognized biogeographical barriers on the evolutionary history of huemul deer (Hippocamelus bisulcus). Location Southern Chile and Argentina's Andean forest, and Patagonian fjords. Methods We examined the phylogeography of huemul using 772 bp of the mitochondrial DNA control region sequence from 275 samples (29 locations) collected throughout the distributional range of the species. We grouped samples into clusters based on Bayesian genetic and spatial structure analyses and reconstructed the species' phylogeographical and demographic history. Results We observed 63 haplotypes that grouped into three clusters (Central Chile, North Patagonia and South Patagonia). All but five haplotypes in North and South Patagonia were distributed locally. Bayesian skyline plots showed that population sizes remained fairly constant until an increase during and after the Last Glacial Maximum. Genetic diversity was generally low, except in three populations in the eastern Andes and on Wellington Island (Patagonian fjords). Main conclusions Our results suggest that the biogeographical separation of huemul into phylogeographical groups has been heavily influenced by Pleistocene glacial stages, and more recently by habitat fragmentation and isolation. This provides the first evidence that the region west of the Cordilleran ice field was a refugium for at least one species of large mammal during the Pleistocene in southern South America. These results have direct implications for the conservation and management of this endangered deer species.

BackgroundClimate change is one of the greatest threats to biodiversity, pushing species to shift their distribution ranges and making existing protected areas inadequate. Estimating species distribution and potential modifications under climate change are then necessary for adjusting conservation and management plans; this is especially true for endangered species. An example of this issue is the huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus), an endemic endangered deer from the southern Andes Range, with less than 2,000 individuals. It is distributed in fragmented populations along a 2,000 km latitudinal gradient, in Chile and Argentina. Several threats have reduced its distribution to <50% of its former range.MethodsTo estimate its potential distribution and protected areas effectiveness, we constructed a species distribution model using 2,813 huemul presence points throughout its whole distribution range, together with 19 bioclimatic layers and altitude information from Worldclim. Its current distribution was projected for years 2050 and 2070 using five different Global Climate Models estimated for scenarios representing two carbon Representative Concentration Routes (RCP)—RCP4.5 and RCP6.0.ResultsBased on current huemul habitat variables, we estimated 91,617 km2 of suitable habitat. In future scenarios of climate change, there was a loss of suitable habitat due to altitudinal and latitudinal variation. Future projections showed a decrease of 59.86–60.26% for the year 2050 and 58.57–64.34% for the year 2070 according to RCP4.5 and RCP6.0, respectively. Protected areas only covered only 36.18% of the present distribution, 38.57–34.94% for the year 2050 and 30.79–31.94% for 2070 under climate change scenarios.DiscussionModeling current and future huemul distributions should allow the establishment of priority conservation areas in which to focus efforts and funds, especially areas without official protection. In this way, we can improve management in areas heavily affected by climate change to help ensure the persistence of this deer and other species under similar circumstances worldwide.

The major histocompatibility complex ( MHC ) is a highly polymorphic region on chromosome 16, which contains numerous immune response genes, and is known to influence disease susceptibility and resistance in chickens. Variability of MHC- B haplotypes in various well-known and commercially utilized breeds has previously been identified. This study aims to understand MHC- B diversity in the Silkie breed using a high-density SNP panel that encompasses the chicken MHC- B region. DNA was obtained from 74 females and 27 males from a commercial Silkie breeder colony that is maintained through minimal genetic selection practices. A previously described panel of 90 SNPs, all located within the MHC- B region, was used to evaluate MHC- B variability in the commercial Silkie breeder colony. MHC- B haplotypes identified from the individual SNP information in the Silkie colony were compared to published haplotypes from the same region. Of the 27 haplotypes identified in the Silkie population, 8 have been previously described. Nineteen haplotypes are unique to the Silkie population and include one novel recombinant and 2 additional possible novel recombinants. Six haplotypes were found at a frequency greater than 5% of the population, of which 4 are novel. Finally, Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium ( HWE ) was calculated for the observed haplotypes, which were found to be in HWE. This study shows considerable MHC- B diversity in the Silkie breed and adds further information on variability of the MHC- B region in the chicken.

We document the presence of a huemul population on Cabo León, Riesco Island, Chilean Patagonia 15 years after its first assessment, providing ecological insights for this southernmost coastal population. During Austral spring 2018 we recorded indirect signs of huemul presence and five individuals including one yearling across 35 km of trails, estimating a density of 2.3 ind/km2. Records were distributed in dense secondary forest, at low elevations and slopes. These observations suggest the presence of a breeding population, favored by the establishment of a private reserve and the reduction of livestock, along with the recently established Kawésqar National Park.

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