U1 snDNA chromosomal mapping in ten spittlebug species (Cercopidade, Auchenorrhyncha, Hemiptera).

Spittlebugs, which belong to the family Cercopidae (Auchenorrhyncha, Hemiptera), form a large group of xylem-feeding insects that are best known for causing damage to plantations and pasture grasses. The holocentric chromosomes of these insects remain poorly studied in regards to the organization of different classes of repetitive DNA. To improve chromosomal maps based on repetitive DNAs and to better understand the chromosomal organization and evolutionary dynamics of multigene families in spittlebugs, we physically mapped the U1 snRNA gene with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in 10 species of Cercopidae belonging to three different genera. All the U1 snDNA clusters were autosomal and located in interstitial position. In seven species, they were restricted to one autosome per haploid genome, while three species of the genus Mahanarva showed two clusters in two different autosomes. Although it was not possible to precisely define the ancestral location of this gene, it was possible to observe the presence of at least one cluster located in a small bivalent in all karyotypes. The karyotype stability observed in Cercopidae is also observed in respect to the distribution of U1 snDNA. Our data are discussed in light of possible mechanisms for U1 snDNA conservation and compared with the available data from other species.

Atlantic frugivory: a plant-frugivore interaction data set for the Atlantic Forest.

The data set provided here includes 8,320 frugivory interactions (records of pairwise interactions between plant and frugivore species) reported for the Atlantic Forest. The data set includes interactions between 331 vertebrate species (232 birds, 90 mammals, 5 fishes, 1 amphibian, and 3 reptiles) and 788 plant species. We also present information on traits directly related to the frugivory process (endozoochory), such as the size of fruits and seeds and the body mass and gape size of frugivores. Data were extracted from 166 published and unpublished sources spanning from 1961 to 2016. While this is probably the most comprehensive data set available for a tropical ecosystem, it is arguably taxonomically and geographically biased. The plant families better represented are Melastomataceae, Myrtaceae, Moraceae, Urticaceae, and Solanaceae. Myrsine coriacea, Alchornea glandulosa, Cecropia pachystachya, and Trema micrantha are the plant species with the most animal dispersers (83, 76, 76, and 74 species, respectively). Among the animal taxa, the highest number of interactions is reported for birds (3,883) followed by mammals (1,315). The woolly spider monkey or muriqui, Brachyteles arachnoides, and Rufous-bellied Thrush, Turdus rufiventris, are the frugivores with the most diverse fruit diets (137 and 121 plants species, respectively). The most important general patterns that we note are that larger seeded plant species (>12 mm) are mainly eaten by terrestrial mammals (rodents, ungulates, primates, and carnivores) and that birds are the main consumers of fruits with a high concentration of lipids. Our data set is geographically biased, with most interactions recorded for the southeast Atlantic Forest.

Karyotypes and Repetitive DNA Evolution in Six Species of the Genus Mahanarva (Auchenorrhyncha: Cercopidae).

Insects of the Cercopidae family are widely distributed and comprise 59 genera and 431 species in the New World. They are xylemophagous, causing losses in agricultural and pasture grasses, and are considered as emerging pests. Chromosomally, these insects have been studied by standard techniques, revealing variable diploid numbers and primarily X0 sex chromosome systems (males). We performed chromosome studies in 6 Mahanarva (Cercopidae) species using standard and differential chromosome staining as well as mapping of repetitive DNAs. Moreover, the relationship between the repetitive DNAs was analyzed at the interspecific level. A diploid chromosome number of 2n = 19,X0 was documented, with chromosomes gradually decreasing in size. Neutral or GC-rich regions were detected which varied depending on the species. Fluorescence in situ hybridization with a (TTAGG)n telomeric motif probe revealed terminal signals, matching those of the Cot DNAs obtained from each species, that were also restricted to the terminal regions of all chromosomes. Dot blot analysis with the Cot fraction from M. quadripunctata showed that at least part of the repetitive genome is shared among the 6 species. Our data highlight the conservation of chromosomal features and organization of repetitive DNAs in the genus Mahanarva, suggesting a low differentiation for chromosomes and repetitive DNAs in most of the 6 species studied.

Systematic and historical biogeography of the Bryconidae (Ostariophysi: Characiformes) suggesting a new rearrangement of its genera and an old origin of Mesoamerican ichthyofauna.

BACKGROUND: Recent molecular hypotheses suggest that some traditional suprageneric taxa of Characiformes require revision, as they may not constitute monophyletic groups. This is the case for the Bryconidae. Various studies have proposed that this family (considered a subfamily by some authors) may be composed of different genera. However, until now, no phylogenetic study of all putative genera has been conducted. RESULTS: In the present study, we analyzed 27 species (46 specimens) of all currently recognized genera of the Bryconidae (ingroup) and 208 species representing all other families and most genera of the Characiformes (outgroup). Five genes were sequenced: 16SrRNA, Cytochrome b, recombination activating gene 1 and 2 and myosin heavy chain 6 cardiac muscle. The final matrix contained 4699 bp and was analyzed by maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses. The results show that the Bryconidae, composed of Brycon, Chilobrycon, Henochilus and Salminus, is monophyletic and is the sister group of Gasteropelecidae + Triportheidae. However, the genus Brycon is polyphyletic. Fossil studies suggest that the family originated approximately 47 million years ago (Ma) and that one of the two main lineages persisted only in trans-Andean rivers, including Central American rivers, suggesting a much older origin of Mesoamerican ichthyofauna than previously accepted. CONCLUSION: Bryconidae is composed by five main clades, including the genera Brycon, Chilobrycon, Henochilus and Salminus, but a taxonomic review of these groups is needed. Our results point to a possible ancient invasion of Central America, dating about 20.3 ± 5.0 Ma (late Oligocene--early Miocene), to explain the occurrence of Brycon in Central America.

Multilocus molecular phylogeny of Gasteropelecidae (Ostariophysi: Characiformes) reveals the existence of an unsuspected diversity.

The characiform family Gasteropelecidae, the so-called freshwater hatchetfishes, is comprised of three genera and nine species found in Panama and all South American countries except Chile. Our goal was to investigate the molecular characteristics, phylogenetic relationships among the species and genera of Gasteropelecidae and phylogenetic relationships between the Gasteropelecidae family with other Characiformes. DNA fragments from two mitochondrial (16S rRNA and Cytochrome B) and three nuclear genes (Rag1, Rag2 and Myh6) were sequenced. Our results corroborate the morphology-based hypothesized monophyly of the Gasteropelecidae family and most of the relationships among its genera. However, the genus Gasteropelecus is polyphyletic because G. maculatus is placed as the sister group to all other gasteropelecids, whereas G. sternicla is more closely related to species of Carnegiella. Similarly, the species Carnegiella strigata is not monophyletic, which suggests that the family needs a taxonomic review. Moreover, the species Thoracocharax stellatus was composed by four distinct lineages suggesting the this species may represents a species complex.

Distributions and phylogeographic data of rheophilic freshwater fishes provide evidences on the geographic extension of a central-brazilian amazonian palaeoplateau in the area of the present day Pantanal Wetland

The analysis of the distribution patterns presented by examples of freshwater fishes restricted to headwater habitat: the anostomid Leporinus octomaculatus, the characins Jubiaba acanthogaster, Oligosarcus perdido, Moenkhausia cosmops, Knodus chapadae, Planaltina sp., the loricariid Hypostomus cochliodon, and the auchenipterid Centromochlus sp. provided evidences of a relatively recent shared history between the highlands of the upper rio Paraguay and adjoining upland drainage basins. Restricted to headwater of the uplands in the upper rio Paraguay and adjoining basins, these species provide biological evidence of the former extension of the central Brazilian plateau before the origin of the Pantanal Wetland. Disjunction took place due to an ecological barrier to these rheophilic taxa represented tectonic subsidence related to the origin of the Pantanal Wetland. Molecular analysis of Jubiaba acanthogaster revealed that the sample from the upper rio Xingu basin are the sister-group of a clade that includes samples from the upper rio Arinos (upper rio Tapajós) plus the upper rio Paraguay basin, supporting the assumption that the origin of the upper rio Paraguay basin causing vicariance between this basin and the upper rio Tapajós is the least vicariant event in the evolutionary history of the group.

A análise do padrão de distribuição apresentado por exemplos de peixes de água doce neotropicais restritos à habitats reofílicos de cabeceira: o anostomídeo Leporinus octomaculatus, os caracídeos Jubiaba acanthogaster, Oligosarcus perdido, Moenkhausia cosmops, Knodus chapadae, Planaltina sp., o loricariídeo Hypostomus cochliodon e o auquenipterídeo Centromochlus sp. fornecem evidências de uma história compartilhada relativamente recente entre as terras altas do alto rio Paraguai e bacias de terras altas vizinhas. Restritas às cabeceiras das áreas altas nas bacias do alto rio Paraguai e bacias vizinhas, estas espécies fornecem evidências biológicas da pretérita extensão do Planalto Central Brasileiro anteriormente a origem tectônica da planície alagável do Pantanal. Disjunções ocorreram devido a barreira ecológica para estes taxons reofílicos representada pela subsidência tectônica associada à origem do Pantanal. A análise molecular de Jupiaba acanthogaster revelou que amostras da bacia do alto rio Xingu consistem no grupo-irmão de um clado mais inclusivo que inclui amostras do alto rio Arinos (alto rio Tapajós) mais o alto rio Paraguai, suportando a suposição de que a origem do alto rio Paraguai causou vicariância entre esta bacia e o alto rio Tapajós no último evento vicariante na história evolutiva do grupo.

Phylogenetic relationships within the speciose family Characidae (Teleostei: Ostariophysi: Characiformes) based on multilocus analysis and extensive ingroup sampling.

BACKGROUND: With nearly 1,100 species, the fish family Characidae represents more than half of the species of Characiformes, and is a key component of Neotropical freshwater ecosystems. The composition, phylogeny, and classification of Characidae is currently uncertain, despite significant efforts based on analysis of morphological and molecular data. No consensus about the monophyly of this group or its position within the order Characiformes has been reached, challenged by the fact that many key studies to date have non-overlapping taxonomic representation and focus only on subsets of this diversity. RESULTS: In the present study we propose a new definition of the family Characidae and a hypothesis of relationships for the Characiformes based on phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequences of two mitochondrial and three nuclear genes (4,680 base pairs). The sequences were obtained from 211 samples representing 166 genera distributed among all 18 recognized families in the order Characiformes, all 14 recognized subfamilies in the Characidae, plus 56 of the genera so far considered incertae sedis in the Characidae. The phylogeny obtained is robust, with most lineages significantly supported by posterior probabilities in Bayesian analysis, and high bootstrap values from maximum likelihood and parsimony analyses. CONCLUSION: A monophyletic assemblage strongly supported in all our phylogenetic analysis is herein defined as the Characidae and includes the characiform species lacking a supraorbital bone and with a derived position of the emergence of the hyoid artery from the anterior ceratohyal. To recognize this and several other monophyletic groups within characiforms we propose changes in the limits of several families to facilitate future studies in the Characiformes and particularly the Characidae. This work presents a new phylogenetic framework for a speciose and morphologically diverse group of freshwater fishes of significant ecological and evolutionary importance across the Neotropics and portions of Africa.

A new species of Tetragonopterus Cuvier, 1816 (Characiformes: Characidae: Tetragonopterinae) from the rio Jari, Amapá, northern Brazil

Uma espécie nova de Tetragonopterus é descrita do rio Jari, um tributário da margem esquerda do rio Amazonas, na divisa entre os Estados do Amapá e Pará, norte do Brasil. Esta é morfologicamente diferenciada das outras espécies do gênero (T. argenteus, T. chalceus e T. rarus combinação nova) pelo formato losangular da mancha no pedúnculo caudal contra uma mancha arredondada a quadrangular nas demais espécies. Sequências parciais do gene mitocondrial citocromo oxidase C subunidade I de representantes de todas as espécies válidas de Tetragonopterus, incluindo esta espécie nova, foram analisadas. Os resultados obtidos revelaram uma significante distância genética entre esta espécie nova e as demais do gênero. É apresentada uma discussão sobre a nova combinação, Tetragonopterus rarus.

A new species of Tetragonopterus is described from the rio Jari, a tributary to the left margin of rio Amazonas, at the border between Amapá and Pará States, northern Brazil. It is morphologically diagnosed from the other species of the genus (T. argenteus, T. chalceus, and T. rarus new combination) by the lozenge-shaped spot on the caudal peduncle vs. rounded to square spot on the other species. Partial sequences of the mitochondrial gene Cytochrome Oxidase C subunit I, from representatives of all valid species of Tetragonopterus, including this new species, were analyzed. The obtained results revealed a significant genetic distance between the new species and its congeners. A discussion on the new combination, Tetragonopterus rarus, is also provided.

New species of Moenkhausia Eigenmann, 1903 (Characiformes: Characidae) with comments on the Moenkhausia oligolepis species complex

A new species of Moenkhausia is described from tributaries of the rio Paraguay, Brazil. The new species is diagnosed from congeners by characters related to body coloration, the number of lateral line scales, the degree of poring of the lateral line, and number of scales rows above and below the lateral line. Molecular analyses using partial sequences of the mitochondrial gene Cytochrome Oxidase I from specimens of the new species and specimens belonging to morphologically similar species demonstrated that the new species is easily differentiated by their high genetic distance and by their position in the phylogenetic hypothesis obtained through the Maximum Parsimony methodology. The analyses of three samples of M. oligolepis also revealed that they have high genetic distances and belong to different monophyletic groups suggesting that this species corresponds to a species complex rather than a single species.

Uma nova espécie de Moenkhausia é descrita de tributários do rio Paraguai, Brasil. Essa nova espécie é diagnosticada de seus congêneres por caracteres relacionados ao padrão de colorido do corpo, número de escamas da linha lateral, grau de desenvolvimento dos poros sensoriais na linha lateral e número de séries de escamas acima e abaixo da linha lateral. Um análise molecular usando sequências parciais do gene mitocondrial Citocromo Oxidase I de espécimes representativos da nova espécie e espécimes pertencentes a espécies morfologicamente similares demonstrou que a nova espécie é facilmente diferenciada por sua elevada distância genética e por sua posição na hipótese filogenética obtida pelo método de máxima parcimônia. A análise de três amostras de M. oligolepis também revelou que estas apresentam distâncias genéticas elevadas e pertencem a grupos monofiléticos distintos, sugerindo que esta espécie corresponda a um complexo de espécies e não uma única espécie.