Atlantic Forest fragmentation affects the genetic variation distribution pattern in blue manakins, Chiroxiphia caudata (Aves, Pipridae)

Habitat fragmentation is one of the main threats to the biodiversity and one of the main challenges faced by conservation biology. This study assessed the effects of habitat fragmentation on the genetic variability of the blue manakin Chiroxiphia caudata , an endemic bird of Atlantic Forest biome. Nine microsatellite loci were used to analyze individuals from five Atlantic Forest areas. Private alleles were found in all areas. F st , D est , Bayesian and Discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) indicated that populations are genetically structured, but the distance could not explain the differentiation between areas. The fragmentation and the reduction of gene flow may be acting in order to increase the differentiation between areas. Thus, even a generalist species may be affected by habitat fragmentation. Despite this, the whole complex of fragmented areas in Atlantic Forest appears to play an important role for the blue manakin by sheltering its genetic diversity as a whole.