Genetic variation is essential for biological evolution, for maintaining viability of populations, and to ensure ecosystem resilience. Increased human exploitation and environmental change result in rapid loss of biological variation, including genetic diversity. Measures to halt this trend require that biological diversity is assessed and monitored. Assessment of biodiversity includes identifying patterns of distribution of genetic variation within individual species. This thesis focuses on spatial genetic structure and assessment of units for conservation in continuous environments without apparent migration barriers. Empirical data refer to Scandinavia and the model species are northern pike (Esox lucius), brown trout (Salmo trutta), and harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). Questions regarding monitoring genetic diversity and releases of alien populations are also addressed.  The spatial genetic structure of the northern pike in the Baltic Sea is characterized by isolation by distance and continuous genetic change. Positive genetic correlation was found among pike within geographical distances of less than 150 km. This distance may be used to suggest management units in this area. For the brown trout, genetic monitoring identified two sympatric populations within a small mountain lake system. The situation is characterized by a clear genetic but no apparent phenotypic dichotomy. Scientific support for a genetically distinct Baltic harbour porpoise population is limited, and the spatial genetic structure of the harbour porpoise in Swedish waters needs to be clarified. Data for launching conservation genetic monitoring programs is available for only a few Swedish species. Millions of forest trees, fish, and birds are released annually in Sweden and the documentation on these releases is poor. To meet responsibilities of safeguarding biodiversity and surveying biological effects of releases, there is an urgent need for studies aimed at evaluating genetic diversity. / At the time of the doctoral defense, the following paper was unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 2: Manuscript.

The objectives of this thesis relate to questions needed to be addressed in the context of genetic monitoring for implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity for the gene level. Genetic monitoring is quantifying temporal changes in population genetic metrics. Specific goals of this thesis include i) synthesizing existing information relevant to genetic monitoring of Swedish species, ii) providing a genetic baseline for the Swedish moose, iii) evaluating the relative performance of nuclear versus organelle genetic markers for detecting population divergence, iv) actually monitoring the genetic composition, structure, level of variation, and effective population size (Ne) and assessing the relation between Ne and the actual number of individuals for an unexploited brown trout population. The concept of conservation genetic monitoring is defined and Swedish priority species for such monitoring are identified; they include highly exploited organisms such as moose, salmonid fishes, Norway spruce, Atlantic cod, and Atlantic herring. Results indicate that the Swedish moose might be more genetically divergent than previously anticipated and appears to be divided into at least three different subpopulations, representing a southern, a central, and a northern population. The relative efficiency of nuclear and organelle markers depends on the relationship between the degree of genetic differentiation at the two types of markers. In turn, this relates to how far the divergence process has progressed. For the monitored brown trout population no indication of systematic change of population structure or allele frequencies was observed over 30 years. Significant genetic drift was found, though, translating into an overall Ne-estimate of ~75. The actual number of adult fish (NC) was assessed as ~600, corresponding to an Ne/NC ratio of 0.13. In spite of the relatively small effective population size monitoring did not reveal loss of genetic variation.

Master of Science / Department of Plant Pathology / Karen A. Garrett / Ecological clines often result in gradients of disease pressure in natural plant communities, imposing a gradient of selection on disease resistance genes. We describe the diversity of a resistance gene homolog in natural populations of the dominant tallgrass prairie grass, Andropogon gerardii, across a precipitation gradient ranging from 47.63 cm/year in western Kansas to 104.7 cm/year in central Missouri. Since moisture facilitates infection by foliar bacterial pathogens, plants along this precipitation gradient will tend to experience heavier bacterial disease pressure to the east. In maize, the gene Rxo1 confers resistance to the pathogenic bacterium Burkholderia andropogonis. Rxo1 homologs have been identified in A. gerardii and B. andropogonis is known to infect natural populations of A. gerardii. The spatial genetic structure of A. gerardii was assessed from central Missouri to western Kansas by genotyping with AFLP markers. Samples were also genotyped for Rxo1 homologs by amplifying an 810 base pair region of the leucine-rich repeat and digesting with restriction enzymes. We compared Rxo1 homolog diversity to AFLP diversity across different spatial scales. Genetic dissimilarity based on AFLP markers was lower than would have occurred by chance at distances up to 30 m, and different prairies were more dissimilar than would have occurred by chance, but there was not a longitudinal trend in within-prairie dissimilarity as measured by AFLP markers. Dissimilarity of the Rxo1 homologs was higher in the east suggesting the presence of diversifying selection in the more disease-conducive eastern environments.

La structure génétique et la dynamique des populations des champignons phytopathogènes peuvent être influencées par de nombreux facteurs, ce que nous avons illustré à différentes échelles chez Melampsora larici-populina, l'agent de la rouille du peuplier. A l'échelle de la France, deux principaux groupes génétiques se différencient. Le premier, inféodé aux hôtes sauvages, est le produit de l'évolution des populations en conditions naturelles. Le second, formé suite au contournement de la résistance R7 portée par le cultivar "Beaupré", se caractérise par une forte proportion d"individus virulents 7 et présente des signatures de sélection et d'expansion démographique, témoins de l'invasion de ce groupe sur tous les peupliers (y compris sauvages) de la moitié nord de la France. A une échelle plus restreinte, nous avons examiné une zone de contact située dans les Alpes, où la délimitation entre les groupes « cultivé » et « sauvage » était la plus marquée. En testant l'effet du paysage, nous avons montré que le massif des Ecrins protégeait le groupe « sauvage » situé à l'est, en amont de la vallée de la Durance, de l'invasion des individus au profil « cultivé » venant du nord-ouest. Il n'en est pas de même dans la partie aval de cette vallée, colonisée annuellement par une vague épidémique, issue de ces deux groupes génétiques présents en amont de part et d'autre du Massif des Ecrins. En dernier lieu nous avons examiné les conséquences génétiques des évènements de colonisation, qui se traduisent par une augmentation de la différenciation par rapport à la source de l'épidémie ainsi qu'une érosion de la diversité génétique. Ce travail original a permis de souligner l'importance de combiner les approches d'épidémiologie et de génétique des populations pour caractériser au mieux les processus démographiques et leurs conséquences génétiques / Many factors can impact the genetic structures and population dynamics of fungal plant pathogens. Here we illustrated some of them at different spatial scales for the poplar rust fungus Melampsora larici-populina. At the scale of France, two main genetic groups were found. The first one infects only wild hosts and results from natural evolution of rust populations. The second one was formed after the R7 resistance breakdown, which is carried by the cultivar ?Beaupré?. This group exhibited a high proportion of virulent 7 individuals and presented signs of selection and demographic expansion; these signs indicate the recent invasion of individuals from this group on both wild and cultivated poplars in the northern half of France. At a regional scale, we focused on a contact zone between the ?cultivated? and the ?wild? genetic groups, located in the Alps. Upstream the Durance River valley, the influence of landscape has been highlighted by the effect of the Ecrins range which protects the ?wild? group located on the east side from the invasion of individuals from the ?cultivated? group, which arise from the northwest. Downstream the valley the annual epidemic wave was shown to be composed of admixed individuals from ?wild? and ?cultivated? groups, originating from both sides of the Ecrins range. Lastly we assessed the genetic consequences of the colonization wave. We evidenced a gradual increase of genetic differentiation with the epidemic source and a loss of genetic diversity. This work highlights the need of combining population genetics and epidemiology to characterize demographic processes and their genetic consequences

No description available.

The accurate assessment of forest persistence under environmental change is dependent on the fundamental understanding of the genetic consequences of human intervention and its comparison to that of natural processes, as declines in genetic diversity and changes in its structuring can compromise the adaptive ability of a population. The European beech, Fagus sylvatica, has experienced prolonged human impact over its 14 million ha range with contemporary forests harbouring high ecological, economic, and cultural value. Historical traditional management practices, such as coppicing and pollarding, have impacted a large portion of Europe’s forests. This form of management encouraged vegetative regeneration, prolonging the longevity of individual trees. In several cases, the structure and function of managed trees and their associated ecosystems were significantly altered. Specifically, coppiced beech forests in Europe displayed significantly larger extents of spatial genetic structuring compared to their natural counterparts, revealing a change in the genetic composition of the population due to decades of management. Humans have also aided in the dispersal of beech within and outside of its natural range. In Great Britain, the putative native range retained signals of past colonisation dynamics. However, these signals were obscured by the wide-spread translocation of the species throughout the country. Evidence of post-glacial colonisation dynamics can be found in Sweden as well. In contrast to Britain, the structure of this natural leading range edge displays a gradual reduction in population size where isolation was found to have acted as an effective barrier to gene flow reducing the genetic diversity of populations.

O tucumã-do-Amazonas (Astrocaryum aculeatum), da família Arecaceae, é uma espécie com ocorrência na Amazônia Ocidental e Central brasileira. Seu fruto é muito apreciado na região amazônica que consome a polpa na forma fresca. Sua produção é feita pelos agricultores extrativistas. Não existem informações dos parâmetros de diversidade e estrutura genética das populações naturais desta espécie, fundamental para o estabelecimento de estratégias adequadas no uso deste recurso genético, e para aumentar a eficiência da domesticação e seleção para um programa de melhoramento genético. Não é conhecido também como este extrativismo pode estar influenciando a diversidade entre estas populações ao nível dos genitores e progênies, o fluxo gênico e a estrutura genética espacial. Assim, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi caracterizar a estrutura e a diversidade genética de populações de A. aculeatum no Estado do Amazonas, utilizando marcadores microssatélites. Como objetivos específicos o estudo visou desenvolver iniciadores de microssatélites para A. aculeatum; avaliar a diversidade e a estrutura genética; determinar o fluxo gênico, bem como o grau de parentesco, a estrutura genética espacial (EGE) e o coeficiente de coancestria numa população. Os iniciadores de microssatélites foram isolados a partir de uma biblioteca genômica enriquecida e caracterizados usando 40 amostras provenientes de duas populações selvagens. Foram identificados 14 iniciadores de microssatélites, mostrando um alto polimorfismo nas populações avaliadas. Para estimar a diversidade e estrutura genética foram utilizadas amostras de material vegetal de 218 plantas distribuídas em 15 populações, localizadas em 14 municípios do estado de Amazonas. Foram identificados 101 alelos nos iniciadores, com média de 10,1 alelos. As médias das heterozigosidades observadas (HO) foram superiores às esperadas (HE) ao nível de população (HO=0,639, HE=0,557) e locos (HO=0,639; HE=0,594). Os baixos valores de FST (0,07) mostraram uma moderada estrutura populacional e a análise Bayesiana indicou um agrupamento mais adequado de k=4, o que foi confirmado pelas análises de PCoA. Para realizar o fluxo gênico, EGE e coeficiente de coancestria foram utilizadas 244 amostras de material vegetal, distribuídas entre 112 possíveis genitores, 12 matrizes e 120 progênies numa população. Foi detectada EGE significativa para os adultos até a distância de 50 m, indicando dispersão de sementes a curtas distâncias. A análise de paternidade detectou 9,2% de imigração de pólen. Não foram detectadas autofecundações e a distância média de polinização dentro da população foi de 81 m. Os índices de diversidade genética confirmaram a estratégia reprodutiva por alogamia da espécie, com níveis elevados de heterozigotos nas populações, e a estrutura genética sugere que a espécie teria iniciado o processo de formação das subpopulações há pouco tempo, tendo sido influenciada antes e após o início do desmatamento. O fluxo gênico detectado indica que a entrada de alelos na população através da imigração de pólen está contribuindo para manutenção da diversidade genética da população. Com relação à conservação da espécie, esta deve ser realizada ao nível das bacias hidrográficas, direcionando políticas de manejo para as bacias hidrográficas da Amazônia. Entretanto, dentro da população é importante a renovação com novas progênies selecionadas a partir de um espaçamento mínimo de 50 m entre plantas matrizes para diminuir as probabilidades de coletar sementes de plantas parentes. / The tucum palm (Astrocaryum aculeatum), family Arecaceae, is a species occurring in Western and Central Brazilian Amazon. Its fruit is widely appreciated in the Amazon region that consumes the pulp in fresh form. Its production is made by extractive farmers. There is no information on the genetic diversity and structure of natural populations of this species, fundamental to establishing adequate strategies in the use of this genetic resource, increase the efficiency of domestication and selection for a breeding program. It is also unknown the way this extrativism may be influencing to diversity of these populations at the level of the parents and offspring, as well as gene flow and spatial genetic structure. Therefore, the objective of this research was to characterize the structure and genetic diversity of populations of A. aculeatum in Amazonas State, using microsatellite markers. As specific objectives, the study aimed to develop microsatellite primers for A. aculeatum; evaluate the genetic diversity and structure; determine the gene flow, the degree of relationship or kinship, the spatial genetic structure (SGS) and the coefficient of coancestry in one population. The loci were isolated from a microsatellite-enriched genomic library and were characterized using 40 samples coming from two wild populations. Fourteen microsatellite primers were identified, showing a high polymorphism in the populations evaluated. To estimate the genetic diversity and structure we used samples of plant material from 218 plants distributed in 15 populations located in 14 municipalities of the state of Amazonas. A total of 101 alleles were identified in the primers, with an average of 10.1 alleles. The averages of the observed heterozygosities (HO) were higher than the expected heterozygosities (HE) at the population (HO=0.639; HE=0.557) and loci (HO=0.639; HE=0.594) levels. The low values of FST (0.07) showed a moderate population structure and the Bayesian analysis indicated as the most suitable a cluster of k=4, confirmed by the groups formed in the PCoA. To conduct gene flow, SGS and the coefficient of coancestry, 244 samples of plant material were used, distributed among 112 possible progenitors, 12 matrices and 120 progenies in a population. A significant SGS was detected for adult trees up to the distance of 50 m, indicating seed dispersal over short distances. Paternity analysis indicated 9.2% of pollen immigration. Selfing was not detected and the average distance of pollination within the population was 81 m. The genetic diversity indices confirmed the outcrossing reproductive strategy of the species with high levels of heterozygotes in the populations, and the genetic structure suggests that the species would have started the process of formation of subpopulations a short time ago, being influenced before and after the start of deforestation. The gene flow detected indicates that the entry of alleles in the population through pollen immigration is contributing to the maintenance of genetic diversity of the population. With respect to the conservation of the species, it should be performed at the level of the river basins, directing management policies for the river basins of the Amazon. However, within the population it is important to renew with new progenies selected from a minimum spacing of 50 m between plant matrices to decrease the probability of collecting seeds from plant relatives.

No description available.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-29T14:52:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese thannya nascimento.pdf: 3166640 bytes, checksum: 0a9faeb659c9594423ee5e7f8b495662 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-01-22 / The goal of this study was to evaluate the genetic structure and the spatial pattern of intra and interpopulational gene flow of Dipteryx alata Vogel, based on nuclear and chloroplastidial microsatellite markers. Primers were developed based on sequencing of random fragments from a shotgun genomic library for detection of microsatellite regions. 12 microsatellites regions were obtained from 688 sequences, which allowed the construction of pairs of primers. These regions are composed of motifs with two to six nucleotides, ranging from 136 to 380 base pairs. This shows that the random sequencing strategy from shotgun libraries is interesting because it allows the achievement of primers for repetitive regions with different motifs. Two of these loci (Da_E06 e Da_E12) were polymorphic with three alleles each. He estimation for these loci showed satisfactory values (0.2946 and 0.2879, respectively), considering the number of alleles. Also, we used a transferred primer from the species Phaseolus vulgaris (BM164) for D. alata. Moreover, other two chloroplastidials microsatellite primers were used for molecular analyses of georeferenced subpopulations, totalizing 775 plants distributed over the natural occurrence area of Cerrado. 210 of these plants were collected and georeferenced one by one along the margins of the Araguaia River in the states of Mato-Grosso (RAMT) and Goiás (RAGO) for spatial distribution of genetic variability in local scale analysis. The relationship between estimations of genetic diversity parameters with patterns of potential distribution of species was evaluated. This was used to test the hypothesis that the genetic variability of D. alata populations is distributed according to the central-periphery model. D. alata subpopulations showed considerable high levels of genetic variability that was significantly structured among subpopulations and well structured in space, both for nuclear and chloroplastidial data. The estimation of the apparent cross-fertilization rate (ta = 1.0575) indicates that the species is allogamous. Estimations of migration rates by pollen and by seeds were lower than one, indicating that seed dispersal contributes more effectively for total gene flow. Estimates of the genetic diversity parameters from the Araguaia River population showed similar values between both margins. The estimation of the apparent cross-fertilization rate (0.9434) indicated that the Araguaia River is not a physical barrier to effective gene flow. The effective size of the neighborhood, i.e., the mean number of individuals in an area where panmixia occurs was 85.64 and 22.99 for nuclear and chloroplastidial data, respectively, indicating that seed dispersal is more restricted. The correlogram generated with chloroplastidial data presented a cline pattern of variance more evident than with nuclear data, suggesting that the presence of spatial genetic structure is being more influenced by seed dispersal. We observed that the genetic parameters do not follow a classical central-periphery model, because peripheral population (according to geographical distribution of sampling locations) tended to demonstrate higher values for these estimations, mainly the South and Western subpopulations. The relationship found between the fixation index (f) with human impact indicated that the subpopulations evaluated can be affected by fragmentation process and land use, probably caused by the recent human colonization in Cerrado biome. / O objetivo geral deste estudo foi avaliar a estrutura genética e o padrão espacial do fluxo gênico intra e interpopulacional de Dipteryx alata Vogel, com base em marcadores microssatélites nucleares e cloroplastidiais. Foi utilizada uma estratégia de desenvolvimento de iniciadores que se baseia no seqüenciamento aleatório de fragmentos provenientes de uma biblioteca genômica shotgun para a detecção de regiões microssatélites, em barueiro. Das 668 sequências obtidas, foram encontradas 12 regiões microssatélites que possibilitaram a construção dos pares de iniciadores. Estas regiões são compostas por motivos com dois a seis nucleotídeos, que variam entre 136 a 380 pb. Isto mostra que a estratégia de sequenciamento aleatório a partir de bibliotecas shotgun é interessante por possibilitar a obtenção de iniciadores para regiões repetitivas com diferentes motivos. Dois destes locos (Da_E06 e Da_E12) foram polimórficos, apresentando três alelos cada. As estimativas de He para estes locos apresentaram valores satisfatórios, considerando o número de alelos, e foram iguais a 0,2946 e 0,2879, respectivamente. Isto indica que os iniciadores desenvolvidos e padronizados com sucesso neste trabalho podem ser utilizados para estudos genético-populacionais. Juntamente com estes dois iniciadores desenvolvidos, foi utilizado outro transferido da espécie Phaseolus vulgaris (BM164) para D. alata, além de outros dois iniciadores microssatélites cloroplastidiais para análises moleculares de 23 subpopulações georeferenciadas, totalizando 775 plantas, distribuídas ao longo da área de ocorrência natural do Cerrado. Destas plantas, 210 foram coletadas e georreferenciadas uma a uma, ao longo das margens do alto rio Araguaia nos estados de Mato-Grosso (RAMT) e Goiás (RAGO), para análises de distribuição espacial da variabilidade genética em escala local. Para testar a hipótese de que a variabilidade genética das subpopulações de D. alata se distribui conforme o modelo central-periférico, foram avaliadas as relações entre as estimativas de parâmetro genético de diversidade com os padrões de distribuição potencial da espécie. Foi observado que as subpopulações de D. alata apresentam consideráveis níveis de variabilidade genética que se encontra significativamente estruturada entre as subpopulações, tanto para os dados nucleares quanto para os cloroplastidiais, apresentando-se também estruturada no espaço. A estimativa da taxa de fecundação cruzada aparente (ta = 1,0575) indica que a espécie seja alógama. As estimativas das razões de migração via pólen e via semente foram menores do que 1, o que indica que a dispersão de sementes contribui mais efetivamente para o fluxo gênico total em escala regional. As estimativas dos parâmetros genéticos de diversidade referentes à população contígua ao Rio Araguaia mostraram valores semelhantes entre as margens do rio. A estimativa da taxa de fecundação cruzada aparente (0,9434) confirma a reprodução por alogamia no barueiro. O baixo nível de diferenciação entre as subpopulações das duas margens do rio indica que o rio Araguaia não confere uma barreira física efetiva ao fluxo gênico. O tamanho efetivo de vizinhança, ou seja, o número médio de indivíduos numa área onde ocorre panmixia, para os dados nucleares e cloroplastidiais foi igual a 85,64 e 22,99, respectivamente, indicando que a dispersão de sementes é mais restrita em escala local. O correlograma gerado a partir dos dados cloroplastidiais apresenta um padrão clinal de variação mais evidente do que o proveniente dos dados nucleares, o que sugere que a presença da estrutura genética espacial deve estar sendo mais influenciada pelo padrão de dispersão da semente. Foi observado que parâmetros genéticos estimados para D. alata não se enquadram no clássico modelo central-periférico, pois as populações tidas como periféricas (de acordo com a distribuição geográfica dos pontos de coleta) tendem a exibir maiores valores para estas estimativas, com destaque para as as subpopulações das bordas Sul e Oeste do bioma. A relação encontrada entre os valores estimados para o índice de fixação intrapopulacional (f) com o impacto humano indica que as subpopulações estudadas podem estar sofrendo as conseqüências dos processos de fragmentação e uso da terra na variabilidade genética, causado provavelmente pelo recente processo de ocupação do Cerrado.

O tucumã-do-Amazonas (Astrocaryum aculeatum), da família Arecaceae, é uma espécie com ocorrência na Amazônia Ocidental e Central brasileira. Seu fruto é muito apreciado na região amazônica que consome a polpa na forma fresca. Sua produção é feita pelos agricultores extrativistas. Não existem informações dos parâmetros de diversidade e estrutura genética das populações naturais desta espécie, fundamental para o estabelecimento de estratégias adequadas no uso deste recurso genético, e para aumentar a eficiência da domesticação e seleção para um programa de melhoramento genético. Não é conhecido também como este extrativismo pode estar influenciando a diversidade entre estas populações ao nível dos genitores e progênies, o fluxo gênico e a estrutura genética espacial. Assim, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi caracterizar a estrutura e a diversidade genética de populações de A. aculeatum no Estado do Amazonas, utilizando marcadores microssatélites. Como objetivos específicos o estudo visou desenvolver iniciadores de microssatélites para A. aculeatum; avaliar a diversidade e a estrutura genética; determinar o fluxo gênico, bem como o grau de parentesco, a estrutura genética espacial (EGE) e o coeficiente de coancestria numa população. Os iniciadores de microssatélites foram isolados a partir de uma biblioteca genômica enriquecida e caracterizados usando 40 amostras provenientes de duas populações selvagens. Foram identificados 14 iniciadores de microssatélites, mostrando um alto polimorfismo nas populações avaliadas. Para estimar a diversidade e estrutura genética foram utilizadas amostras de material vegetal de 218 plantas distribuídas em 15 populações, localizadas em 14 municípios do estado de Amazonas. Foram identificados 101 alelos nos iniciadores, com média de 10,1 alelos. As médias das heterozigosidades observadas (HO) foram superiores às esperadas (HE) ao nível de população (HO=0,639, HE=0,557) e locos (HO=0,639; HE=0,594). Os baixos valores de FST (0,07) mostraram uma moderada estrutura populacional e a análise Bayesiana indicou um agrupamento mais adequado de k=4, o que foi confirmado pelas análises de PCoA. Para realizar o fluxo gênico, EGE e coeficiente de coancestria foram utilizadas 244 amostras de material vegetal, distribuídas entre 112 possíveis genitores, 12 matrizes e 120 progênies numa população. Foi detectada EGE significativa para os adultos até a distância de 50 m, indicando dispersão de sementes a curtas distâncias. A análise de paternidade detectou 9,2% de imigração de pólen. Não foram detectadas autofecundações e a distância média de polinização dentro da população foi de 81 m. Os índices de diversidade genética confirmaram a estratégia reprodutiva por alogamia da espécie, com níveis elevados de heterozigotos nas populações, e a estrutura genética sugere que a espécie teria iniciado o processo de formação das subpopulações há pouco tempo, tendo sido influenciada antes e após o início do desmatamento. O fluxo gênico detectado indica que a entrada de alelos na população através da imigração de pólen está contribuindo para manutenção da diversidade genética da população. Com relação à conservação da espécie, esta deve ser realizada ao nível das bacias hidrográficas, direcionando políticas de manejo para as bacias hidrográficas da Amazônia. Entretanto, dentro da população é importante a renovação com novas progênies selecionadas a partir de um espaçamento mínimo de 50 m entre plantas matrizes para diminuir as probabilidades de coletar sementes de plantas parentes. / The tucum palm (Astrocaryum aculeatum), family Arecaceae, is a species occurring in Western and Central Brazilian Amazon. Its fruit is widely appreciated in the Amazon region that consumes the pulp in fresh form. Its production is made by extractive farmers. There is no information on the genetic diversity and structure of natural populations of this species, fundamental to establishing adequate strategies in the use of this genetic resource, increase the efficiency of domestication and selection for a breeding program. It is also unknown the way this extrativism may be influencing to diversity of these populations at the level of the parents and offspring, as well as gene flow and spatial genetic structure. Therefore, the objective of this research was to characterize the structure and genetic diversity of populations of A. aculeatum in Amazonas State, using microsatellite markers. As specific objectives, the study aimed to develop microsatellite primers for A. aculeatum; evaluate the genetic diversity and structure; determine the gene flow, the degree of relationship or kinship, the spatial genetic structure (SGS) and the coefficient of coancestry in one population. The loci were isolated from a microsatellite-enriched genomic library and were characterized using 40 samples coming from two wild populations. Fourteen microsatellite primers were identified, showing a high polymorphism in the populations evaluated. To estimate the genetic diversity and structure we used samples of plant material from 218 plants distributed in 15 populations located in 14 municipalities of the state of Amazonas. A total of 101 alleles were identified in the primers, with an average of 10.1 alleles. The averages of the observed heterozygosities (HO) were higher than the expected heterozygosities (HE) at the population (HO=0.639; HE=0.557) and loci (HO=0.639; HE=0.594) levels. The low values of FST (0.07) showed a moderate population structure and the Bayesian analysis indicated as the most suitable a cluster of k=4, confirmed by the groups formed in the PCoA. To conduct gene flow, SGS and the coefficient of coancestry, 244 samples of plant material were used, distributed among 112 possible progenitors, 12 matrices and 120 progenies in a population. A significant SGS was detected for adult trees up to the distance of 50 m, indicating seed dispersal over short distances. Paternity analysis indicated 9.2% of pollen immigration. Selfing was not detected and the average distance of pollination within the population was 81 m. The genetic diversity indices confirmed the outcrossing reproductive strategy of the species with high levels of heterozygotes in the populations, and the genetic structure suggests that the species would have started the process of formation of subpopulations a short time ago, being influenced before and after the start of deforestation. The gene flow detected indicates that the entry of alleles in the population through pollen immigration is contributing to the maintenance of genetic diversity of the population. With respect to the conservation of the species, it should be performed at the level of the river basins, directing management policies for the river basins of the Amazon. However, within the population it is important to renew with new progenies selected from a minimum spacing of 50 m between plant matrices to decrease the probability of collecting seeds from plant relatives.