Evo-Characoidea: Phylogenomics, Biogeography and Evolution of Neotropical Fishes of the Superfamily Characoidea (Teleostei: Characiformes)

• Grant number: 24/19358-7
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2025
• End date: July 31, 2030
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Taxonomy of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Bruno Francelino de Melo
• Grantee: Bruno Francelino de Melo
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Claudio de Oliveira ; James Albert ; Julia Jane Day ; Luz Eneida Ochoa Orrego ; Marcelo de Bello Cioffi ; Mark Sabaj Perez ; Melanie L J Stiassny ; Rafaela Priscila Ota ; Ricardo Britzke

Abstract

Characiformes constitutes one of the largest groups of teleosts, comprising 2,230 recognized species that inhabit freshwater ecosystems of the Neotropics and sub-Saharan Africa. The group includes five principal clades: Crenuchoidea, Alestoidea, Erythrinoidea, Curimatoidea and Characoidea. Recent research involving phylogenomics and macroevolution has focused on subclades of Alestoidea, Erythrinoidea, and Curimatoidea, but a few has explored the large Neotropical group Characoidea. This clade contains 1,498 species, or 67% of Characiformes, allocated in 12 families: Lebiasinidae, Ctenoluciidae, Chalceidae, Bryconidae, Acestrorhynchidae, Iguanodectidae, Gasteropelecidae, Triportheidae, Spintherobolidae, Characidae, Stevardiidae e Acestrorhamphidae. Despite the lack of biogeographic and evolutionary studies, phylogenetic hypotheses are available for Bryconidae, Gasteropelecidae, Triportheidae, Spintherobolidae and subclades of Characidae, Stevardiidae and Acestrorhamphidae based on traditional molecular analyses with limited taxon sampling. In the Evo-Characoidea Project, we aim to fulfill this knowledge gap by using two approaches: the scientific wing includes (i) investigation of the macroevolutionary events linked to higher net diversification rates in Characoidea, and link those events with geomorphological rearrangements that impacted speciation events using phylogenies based on ultraconserved elements of the nuclear genome and mitogenomes; (ii) reconstruction of the evolutionary history and biogeography of subclades using biogeographic and macroevolution approaches focusing on the expansion to Central America, Serranía del Perijá, Marañon Portal, and northern Brazilian Shield; (iii) investigation of presence/absence of Hox genes and genome-level alterations related to paedomorphosis and miniaturization in Characoidea using complete genomes; and (iv) mapping osteological characters of the neurocranium and axial skeletons that support major clades and are involved in the phenotypic evolution through µCT scans. The second wing emphasizes the (v) contribution to the inventory and description of Characoidea; (vi) formation, growth, and management of the fish and tissue collections of the UFSCar; and (vii) the academic formation of new ichthyologists and evolutionary biologists. Evo-Characoidea will congregate in a scientific network of ichthyologists from Brazil, Colombia, Peru, United Kingdom, and United States and will be fundamental to investigate geomorphological and macroevolutionary phenomena leading to the enormous diversification of Neotropical teleost fishes. (AU)