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. 2012 Dec;35(4):761-9.
doi: 10.1590/S1415-47572012005000060. Epub 2012 Oct 2.

Genetic characterization of the Neotropical catfish Pimelodus maculatus (Pimelodidae, Siluriformes) in the Upper Uruguay River

Josiane Ribolli  1 , Cláudio Manoel Rodrigues de Melo, Evoy Zaniboni-Filho
Affiliations

Genetic characterization of the Neotropical catfish Pimelodus maculatus (Pimelodidae, Siluriformes) in the Upper Uruguay River

Josiane Ribolli et al. Genet Mol Biol. 2012 Dec.

Abstract

Freshwater fish present unique challenges when one attempts to understand the factors that determine the structure of their populations. Habitat fragmentation is a leading cause of population decline that threatens ecosystems worldwide. In this study, we investigated the conservation status of genetic variability in the Neotropical catfish (Pimelodus maculatus). Specifically, we examined the structure and genetic diversity of this species in a region of the Upper Uruguay River fragmented by natural barriers and dams. There was no genetic structure among the four sites analyzed, indicating the existence of only one population group. A combination of environmental management and genetic monitoring should be used to minimize the impact of impoundment on panmitic populations of migratory fish species.

Keywords: conservation genetics; dams; habitat fragmentation; microsatellite.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Samples were obtained from four regions in Upper Uruguay River Basin: BG – upstream of the Barra Grande dam (sites 1–3; n = 52), MA –downstream of the Barra Grande dam and upstream of the Machadinho dam (sites 4–5; n = 60), IT – downstream of the Machadinho dam and upstream of the Itá dam (sites 7–9; n = 48) and DI – downstream of the Itá dam (sites 10 and 11; n = 50).
Figure 2
Figure 2
STRUCTURE results for maximum likelihood ln K (•) and ΔK (–), for one to six populations (K). Maximum peaks in K were at K = 1.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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