Investigating an Unknown Biodiversity: Evidence of Distinct Lineages of the Endemic Chola Guitarfish Pseudobatos percellens Walbaum, 1792 in the Western Atlantic Ocean

Autor(es)

Cruz, Vanessa P. P. ; Rotundo, Matheus M. M. ; Charvet, Patricia ; Boza, Beatriz R. R. ; Souza, Bruno C. C. ; Cerqueira, Najila N. C. D. ; Oliveira, Claudio ; Lessa, Rosangela ; Foresti, Fausto

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: DIVERSITY-BASEL; v. 15, n. 3, p. 17-pg., 2023-03-01.

Resumo

Anthropogenic actions have affected marine species for a long time, through overexploitation of natural stocks and habitat degradation, influencing the life strategies of several taxa, especially rays and sharks, which have suffered significant population declines in recent years. Therefore, conservation actions and stock management have become paramount. In this regard, chola guitarfish, Pseudobatos percellens, distributed throughout the Brazilian coast, is often commercially fished by local artisanal fleets or as by-catch in shrimp trawl fisheries. Therefore, this study aimed to understand the genetic diversity of P. percellens throughout the Brazilian coast, using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Genetic analyses employing 3329 SNPs revealed a hidden biodiversity within P. percellens, with at least one lineage occurring in the Northern and Northeastern regions and another distributed in the Southeastern/Southern Brazilian coast, with high genetic differentiation between them. However, the Discriminant Analysis of Principal Components (DAPC) indicated the presence of in fact three lineages distributed in these regions that must still be better investigated. Therefore, to ensure adequate conservation of chola guitarfish biodiversity, populations must be managed separately along the Brazilian coast. Furthermore, the need for a taxonomic review for this group is noted. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 16/09204-6 - Biodiversidade e Biogeografia em peixes marinho-estuarinos (Teleostei) do Brasil
• Beneficiário: Claudio de Oliveira
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 14/26508-3 - Filogenia da hiperdiversa ordem Characiformes (Teleostei: Ostariophysi) utilizando elementos ultraconservados
• Beneficiário: Claudio de Oliveira
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Temático
• Processo FAPESP: 18/20610-1 - Estudo da biogeografia da costa do Brasil utilizando dados da genética de populações de bagres marinhos dos gêneros Cathorops e Genidens
• Beneficiário: Claudio de Oliveira
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular