Molecular and karyotypic phylogeography in the NeotropicalHoplias malabaricus(Erythrinidae) fish in eastern Brazil

Abstract

The sedentary, predatory characin Hoplias malabaricus has one of the widest distributions of freshwater fishes in South America and is characterized by seven karyomorphs (A-G) that occur in sympatric and allopatric populations. Karyotypical patterns of variation in wild populations have been interpreted as evidence of multiple lineages within this nominal species, a possibility that may limit the validity of experimental data for particular karyomorphs. This study used the phylogeographic and genealogical concordance between cytogenetic (N = 49) and molecular (mitochondrial DNA) (N = 73) data on 17 samples, collected in 12 basins from south-eastern and north-eastern Brazil, to assess the systematic value of cytogenetic data. Cytogenetic patterns show a sex chromosome system in the 2n = 40F karyomorph. Molecular and cytogenetic data indicate a long, independent evolutionary history of karyomorphs and a coastal origin of continental populations in south-eastern Brazil. The lack of fit with molecular clock expectations of divergence between groups is likely to be due to strong demographic fluctuations during the evolution of this species complex. The results indicate that karyotypical identification provides a reliable baseline for placing experimental studies on Hoplias spp. in a phylogenetic context.

Cytogenetic and DNA barcoding reveals high divergence within the trahira, Hoplias malabaricus (Characiformes: Erythrinidae) from the lower Amazon River

“…This conclusion was further reinforced by morphological (Rosa et al, 2009;Piorsky, 2010) and molecular data 2002;Santos et al, 2009;Piorsky, 2010;Pereira et al, 2013). Thus, the available chromosomal, morphological and DNA evidence provide strong support for the existence of a complex of cryptic species within the typical Hoplias malabaricus morphotype, which requires careful taxonomic revision.…”

“…Previous studies have found high levels of divergence in Hoplias malabaricus karyomorphs A and F from the São Francisco basin using the mitochondrial ATPase 6 marker. In this case, molecular divergence was accompanied by marked chromosomal variation, given that the A karyomorph is 2n = 42 while F is 2n = 40 (Santos et al, 2009). If we assume that all the specimens collected in the present study (35 specimens) are representative of karyomorph C, then this cytogenetic categorization should work with a range of genetic distance as high as the observed to discriminate distinct karyomorphs (A and F) and possibly distinct species.…”

“…This species has been studied intensively using a cytogenetic approach, which revealed a karyotypic polymorphism among populations from distinct river basins (Bertollo et al, 2000;Rosa et al, 2009;Santos et al, 2009;Blanco et al, 2010). Seven karyomorphs (denominated A-G) have been identified based on diploid number and chromosome morphology, and are currently recognized as distinct independent evolutionary units (Bertollo et al, 2000).…”

“…australis Oyakawa &Mattox, 2009. The monotypic Hoplias malabaricus group is composed of H. malabaricus (Bloch, 1794), which is believed to encompass a species complex (Bertollo et al, 2000;Dergam et al, 2002;Santos et al, 2009).…”

Taxonomic study of Hoplias microlepis (Günther, 1864), a trans-Andean species of trahiras (Ostariophysi: Characiformes: Erythrinidae)

“…Meristic and morphometric data of specimens greatly overlap throughout the distribution range of the species (e.g., Bifi, 2013), and there is a large number of nominal species currently considered junior synonyms (e.g., Oyakawa, 2003), many of which without known type material. In addition, numerous cytogenetic studies have suggested that H. malabaricus represents a species complex (e.g., Bertollo et al, 1986;Dergam & Bertollo, 1990;Bertollo et al, 1997;2000;Born & Bertollo, 2001;Cioffi et al, 2009aCioffi et al, , 2009bRosa et al, 2009;Santos et al, 2009;Blanco et al, 2010;2011;Cioffi & Bertollo, 2010;Cioffi et al, 2011aCioffi et al, , 2011bCioffi et al, , 2011cCioffi et al, , 2011dMarques et al, 2013).…”