Study of the barriers of reproductive isolation present in the subcomplex vitticeps (Hemiptera, Triatominae)

• Grant number: 19/01197-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2019
• End date: February 29, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Entomology and Malacology of Parasites and Vectors
• Principal Investigator: Kaio Cesar Chaboli Alevi
• Grantee: João Marcos dos Santos Neves
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Based on morphological data and geographic disposition, triatomines were grouped into eight specific subcomplexes, namely dimidiata, phylosoma, brasiliensis, infestans, maculata, matrogrossensis, rubrovaria and sordida. However, with the availability of genetic data of the species, several subcomplexes were regrouped. Triatoma melanocephala Neiva & Pinto, 1923 and T. vitticeps (Stål, 1859) were initially grouped into the subcomplex brasiliensis. However, karyosystematic analyzes have shown that these species should not have been grouped with the species of this subcomplex. Recently, T. melanocephala and T. vitticeps were grouped into a new subcomplex called vitticeps. These species are sisters, share morphological and cytogenetic characteristics and, above all, there are reports of possible natural hybrids occurring in nature. As these species are reproductively isolated from all South American triatomines (due to divergence in chromosome numbers), we consider it important to carry out experimental crosses and to evaluate if there are reproductive barriers installed among the subcomplex species vitticeps, since it is believed that several factors such as current human-induced climate and environmental changes) are likely to influence the increased likelihood of hybridization to future communities (as they are reorganizing species assemblies and breaking down physical, temporal, and behavioral reproductive barriers), which may result in events of extinction, introgression, or, even, speciation. Thus, the present project aims to analyze whether species of the subcomplex vitticeps (T. vitticeps and T. melanocephala) present pre- and/or post-zygotic reproductive barriers by means of experimental crosses and analysis of the resulting hybrids up to the second generation ( F2), with emphasis on the analysis of the evolutionary dynamics of the experimental crosses (interspecific copulation, oviposition, hatching and hybrid development), as well as the analysis of the reproductive viability of the hybrids (spermatogenesis and morphology of male and female gonads).

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DOS SANTOS NEVES, JOAO MARCOS; DE SOUSA, PAULO SERGIO; DE OLIVEIRA, JADER; RAVAZI, AMANDA; MADEIRA, FERNANDA FERNANDEZ; DOS REIS, YAGO VISINHO; BORTOLOZO DE OLIVEIRA, ANA BEATRIZ; PINOTTI, HELOISA; VILELA DE AZEREDO-OLIVEIRA, MARIA TERCILIA; DA ROSA, JOAO ARISTEU; et al. Prezygotic isolation confirms the exclusion of Triatoma melanocephala, T. vitticeps and T. tibiamaculata of the T. brasiliensis subcomplex (Hemiptera, Triatominae). INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION, v. 79, APR 2020. (19/01197-9)