The use of an integrative approach to improve accuracy of species identification and detection of new species in studies of stream fish diversity

Author(s)

Pereira, Luiz Henrique Garcia ^[1] ; Castro, Jerson Rogelio Chanchay ^[1] ; Vargas, Pilar Mireya Huatatoca ^[1] ; Gomez, Jose Alejandro Morales ^[1] ; Oliveira, Claudio ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Integracao Latino Amer UNILA, Inst Latino Amer Ciencias Vida & Nat ILACVN, Lab Biodiversidade & Ecol Mol, Ave Tarquinio Joslin dos Santos 1000, BR-85870650 Foz Do Iguacu, PR - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho UN, Dept Biol Estrutural & Func, Inst Biociencias, Botucatu, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Genetica; v. 149, n. 2, p. 103-116, APR 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

In this study, we made an inventory of the stream and headwater ichthyofauna of the left bank of the Itaipu Dam Reservoir, located in the lower part of the Upper Parana River basin, using an integrative approach of molecular and morphological data. The area is located in the western portion of the Parana state in Brazil, in an area of about 8,000 km(2) highly impacted by deforestation and intensive agriculture. For taxonomic identification of species, we used an identification key combined with the DNA barcoding approach. We found 48 species belonging to six orders, 13 families, and 37 genera. The Siluriformes and Characiformes were the most representative orders (75%) and the Characidae was the most representative family (20.8%). Nine species prevailed in this region, making up to 86% of all specimens collected. The integrative approach proved to be useful by allowing the unambiguous identification of all species, including those cases in which morphological characters were not conclusive for species identification, cases of cryptic species, and species with high morphological plasticity. In addition, the integrative approach highlighted six to 13 new putative species depending on the approach considered. Our study provides a relevant contribution to the knowledge of fish diversity in a poorly studied area of the Parana River basin. We showed that the use of an integrative approach in inventory studies improves species identification and the discovery of new, cryptic, and overlooked species, being a powerful and necessary tool to quantify biodiversity. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/26508-3 - Phylogeny of the hyperdiverse order Characiformes (Teleostei: Ostariophysi) using ultraconserved elements
• Grantee: Claudio de Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 16/09204-6 - Biodiversity and Biogeography in marine-estuarine fishes (Teleostei) from Brazil
• Grantee: Claudio de Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/20610-1 - Study of the biogeography of the Brazilian coast using data population genetic data of marine catfish of the genera Cathorops and Genidens
• Grantee: Claudio de Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants