Cytogenetic data on Astyanax jacuhiensis (Characidae) in the lago Guaíba and tributaries, Brazil

Cytogenetic analyses were performed in Astyanax jacuhiensis from lago Guaíba, Brazil. The diploid number was 50, with a karyotype composed of 8m+30sm+4st+8a chromosomes, FN = 92. The AgNORs were observed in 2 to 5 chromosomes, with intra- and interindividual variation. The sm pair 8 observed always carried NORs on the short arms, presenting size heteromorphism between homologous. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with an 18S rDNA probe only confirmed the location of ribosomal cistrons in the sm pair 8, and heteromorphism of these regions between the homologous chromosomes. C-banding revealed the occurrence of weak C-positive heterochromatin in the pericentromeric regions of several chromosomes, in addition to more evident bands interstitially located on some chromosome pairs and in the terminal region of the short arms in pair 8. C-banding plus CMA3 revealed light fluorescent signals in different chromosomes of the karyotype, with a strong terminal site in pair 8, indicating the occurrence of several GC-rich heterochromatic regions in this species. Our results provide the first description of the Astyanax jacuhiensis karyotype, showing karyotype similarities when compared to various populations of A. altiparanae and A. bimaculatus, indicating that chromosomal features are very similar for these three species.

Análises citogenéticas foram realizadas em Astyanax jacuhiensis do lago Guaíba, Brasil. O número diplóide foi 50, sendo o cariótipo composto por 8m+30sm+4st+8a cromossomos, NF = 92. As regiões organizadoras de nucléolos (AgNORs) foram observadas em 2 a 5 cromossomos, evidenciando uma variação intra e interindividual nesta espécie. O par sm 8 foi constantemente detectado com NORs nos braços curtos, mostrando um heteromorfismo de tamanho entre os homólogos. Entretanto, a hibridação in situ fluorescente (FISH) com sonda de DNAr 18S, localizou cístrons ribossômicos apenas no par 8, confirmando o heteromorfismo de tamanho entre os homólogos. O bandamento C revelou a presença de bandas discretas de heterocromatina na região pericentromérica da maioria dos cromossomos, além de algumas bandas mais evidentes intersticiais, bem como na região terminal dos braços curtos do par 8. A associação de BC+CMA3 evidenciou marcações fluorescentes mais discretas em diferentes cromossomos e uma forte marcação terminal no par 8, confirmando vários sítios de heterocromatina GC-rica nessa espécie. Nossos resultados fornecem a primeira descrição do cariótipo de Astyanax jacuhiensis, apresentando semelhanças em relação ao cariótipo de diferentes populações de A. altiparanae e A. bimaculatus, indicando que as características cromossômicas são muito semelhantes para estas três espécies.

Identification of Astyanax altiparanae (Teleostei, Characidae) in the Iguaçu River, Brazil, based on mitochondrial DNA and RAPD markers

Astyanax fishes are among the most important food-web components of South America rivers. In the Iguaçu River basin, the Astyanax genus is represented mainly by endemic species. For millions of years, that hydrographic basin has been geographically isolated from the Paraná River basin by the Iguaçu Falls. Recently, a species from the Upper Paraná River basin identified as Astyanax bimaculatus was revised and described as a new species named Astyanax altiparanae Garutti e Britski, 2000. Fauna endemism and geographic isolation triggered interest in investigations to evaluate the identification and genetic relatedness among two A. altiparanae populations from the Upper Paraná River basin and the population identified as A. bimaculatus in the Iguaçu River, upstream from the Iguaçu Falls. Mitochondrial DNA sequences and RAPD markers revealed high genetic diversity within each population, as well as low genetic distance, high gene flow, and high mitochondrial DNA similarity among all three populations. In conjunction with morphological similarities, these results demonstrated that the population presently known as Astyanax bimaculatus in the Iguaçu River should actually be stated as Astyanax altiparanae. Furthermore, it could be inferred that the A. altiparanae population is not endemic and most likely it was recently introduced in the Iguaçu River basin, maintaining the ancestral genetic identity