Abstract

Two populations of Vicugna vicugna from regions First and Second of Chile were studied on the basis of the electrophoretic determination of 28 presumptive loci. Due to the phenotypic differences between the populations mentioned above, this kind of study is required to determine some parameters like taxonomic status, genetic variability and population structure in order to help in conservation management of the specie. The percentage of polymorphism and the level of heterozigosity of vicuñas from the First region were 17.8% and 0.078, respectively. The corresponding figures of vicuñas from the Second were 14.3% and 0.045, respectively. These two parameters show that the two populations have a high degree of genetic variability. High level of demic substructuring (FST = 0,324) and significant degree of genic and genotypic differentiation between populations was found. Genetic drift and polygamy mating system are suggested like promoters of the observed genetic differences. The sub specific status suggested by morphological differences was not confirmed by the genetic distance value (0.097).