Spinal malformations in a naturally isolated Neotropical fish population

PeerJ

article

Franciele Fernanda Kerniske¹  Jonathan Pena Castro¹  Luz Elena De la Ossa-Guerra¹  Bruna Angelina Mayer¹  Vinícius Abilhoa³  Igor de Paiva Affonso⁴  Roberto Ferreira Artoni¹ 

[1] Graduate Program in Evolutionary Biology, State University of Ponta Grossa;Graduate Program in Evolutionary Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of São Carlos;Capão da Imbuia Natural History Museum;Federal Technological University of Paraná

关键词: Inbreeding;    Spinal;    Ontogenetic development;    Gene flow;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.12239

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

Fish populations that reside in completely isolated freshwater ecosystems are rare worldwide. The Vila Velha State Park (VVSP), located in southern Brazil, is recognized for its arenitic formations called sinkholes (furnas), which are completely isolated. Fish populations within, such as those of Psalidodon aff. fasciatus, often develop vertebral malformations due to this isolation from other conspecifics and other species. In this study, we analyzed geometric morphology in digital radiographs to identify congenital deformations of Psalidodon aff. fasciatus in Furna 2 of VVSP. We found many fish with spinal deformities, including wide variation in the number of caudal vertebrae and corporal deformations related to a flattened body and spinal curvature. Females were more affected than males. We also demonstrated that these deformations reflect inbreeding and an absence of gene flow in the population. In conclusion, isolated populations such as fish species in furnas are potential models for evo-devo research.

【 授权许可】

CC BY