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Introgression from non-native species unveils a hidden threat to the migratory Neotropical fish Prochilodus hartii

Guimaraes Sales, N; Pessali, TG; Neto, FRA; Carvalho, DC

Authors

TG Pessali

FRA Neto

DC Carvalho



Abstract

Invasive species are one of the greatest threats to biodiversity, due to competition, predation, pathogen spread, and hybridization. The latter may remain undetected and impair the survival of species, due to genetic admixture and hybrid swarming (i.e., interbreeding between hybrid individuals and backcrossing with parental species). The impact of invasive species remains poorly studied in the Neotropical ichthyofauna, particularly when considering the potential for hybridization between native and introduced species. Due to fisheries importance and its commercial value, species of the Prochilodus genus have been introduced to other catchments in Brazil. Here, we evaluate the introduction of non-native Prochilodus species and the potential effect of hybridization with the native migratory fish P. hartii. To evaluate possible introgression of Prochilodus spp. to P. hartii in the Jequitinhonha river basin (JRB), we employed a morphogenetic approach, analysing 219 specimens sampled from a broad extent of the river basin. Morphological analyses using meristic characters were incongruent with molecular identification by DNA barcoding (COI) in 22.83% of the analysed specimens. Haplotypes from three non-native species (P. argenteus, P. costatus, and P. lineatus) were recovered from specimens morphologically identified as P. hartii. Hybridization between P. hartii and introduced species was confirmed using co-dominant nuclear microsatellite markers. We observed a pronounced introgression pattern in this Neotropical basin, and paradoxically, despite being one of the most abundant migratory species native to the JRB, due to ongoing levels of introgression, P. hartii’s genetic integrity and conservation might be affected.

Citation

Guimaraes Sales, N., Pessali, T., Neto, F., & Carvalho, D. (2017). Introgression from non-native species unveils a hidden threat to the migratory Neotropical fish Prochilodus hartii. Biological Invasions, 20, 555-566. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-017-1556-4

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Sep 2, 2017
Online Publication Date Sep 12, 2017
Publication Date Sep 12, 2017
Deposit Date Jan 31, 2023
Journal Biological Invasions
Print ISSN 1387-3547
Electronic ISSN 1573-1464
Publisher Springer Verlag
Volume 20
Pages 555-566
DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-017-1556-4
Publisher URL http://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-017-1556-4
Additional Information Funders : CNPq;Projeto Peixe Vivo—CEMIG, INCT;CAPES-PRO Equipamentos
Grant Number: 482852/2011-9 and 133324/2013-3
Grant Number: 13324/3013-3
Grant Number: 783380/2013