Abstract The Neotropical armored catfish genus Harttia presents a wide variation of chromosomal rearrangements among its representatives. Studies indicate that translocation and Robertsonian rearrangements have triggered the karyotype evolution in the genus, including differentiation of sex chromosome systems. However, few studies used powerful tools, such as comparative whole chromosome painting, to clarify this highly diversified scenario. Here, we isolated probes from the X1 (a 5S rDNA carrier) and the X2 (a 45S rDNA carrier) chromosomes of Harttia punctata, which displays an X1X1X2X2/X1X2Y multiple sex chromosome system. Those probes were applied in other Harttia species to evidence homeologous chromosome blocks. The resulting data reinforce that translocation events played a role in the origin of the X1X2Y sex chromosome system in H. punctata. The repositioning of homologous chromosomal blocks carrying rDNA sites among ten Harttia species has also been demonstrated. Anchored to phylogenetic data it was possible to evidence some events of the karyotype diversification of the studied species and to prove an independent origin for the two types of multiple sex chromosomes, XX/XY1Y2 and X1X1X2X2/X1X2Y, that occur in Harttia species. The results point to evolutionary breakpoint regions in the genomes within or adjacent to rDNA sites that were widely reused in Harttia chromosome remodeling.

Resumo Os peixes gigantes da América do Sul do gêneroArapaima, comumente conhecidos como pirarucus, são um dos mais icônicos de Osteoglossiformes. Estudos citogenéticos prévios identificaram suas características cariotípicas, entretanto a caracterização da diferenciação citotaxonômica através de suas distribuições geográficas ainda são desconhecidas. Nesse estudo, nós comparamos características cromossômicas utilizando técnicas de citogenética clássica e molecular em populações das bacias dos rios Amazonas e Tocantins-Araguaia, a fim de verificar se há alguma diferenciação entre representantes desse gênero. Nossos dados revelaram que indivíduos de todas as populações apresentam número diploide de 2n=56 cromossomos e que seus cariótipos são compostos de 14 pares de cromossomos meta- e submetacêntricos e 14 pares de subtelo- e acrocêntricos. Os sítios maiores e menores de rDNA estão localizados em pares cromossômicos separados, onde os sítios maiores de rDNA correspondem a grandes blocos heterocromáticos. Hibridizações genômicas comparativas (CGH) mostraram que o genoma dos espécimes dessas populações é amplamente compartilhado, devido à falta de sinais substanciais específicos. Nossos dados de citogenética comparativa do pirarucu sugerem que embora diferenças genéticas significativas ocorram entre populações, os padrões cariotípicos gerais se mantêm conservados.

Abstract The South American giant fishes of the genus Arapaima, commonly known as pirarucu, are one of the most iconic among Osteoglossiformes. Previously cytogenetic studies have identified their karyotype characteristics; however, characterization of cytotaxonomic differentiation across their distribution range remains unknown. In this study, we compared chromosomal characteristics using conventional and molecular cytogenetic protocols in pirarucu populations from the Amazon and Tocantins-Araguaia river basins to verify if there is differentiation among representatives of this genus. Our data revealed that individuals from all populations present the same diploid chromosome number 2n=56 and karyotype composed of 14 pairs of meta- to submetacentric and 14 pairs of subtelo- to acrocentric chromosomes. The minor and major rDNA sites are in separate chromosomal pairs, in which major rDNA sites corresponds to large heterochromatic blocks. Comparative genomic hybridizations (CGH) showed that the genome of these populations shared a great portion of repetitive elements, due to a lack of substantial specific signals. Our comparative cytogenetic data analysis of pirarucu suggested that, although significant genetic differences occur among populations, their general karyotype patterns remain conserved.

Previous geoetic studies cooducted with migratory fish populatioos from dowostream of the Três Marias dam io the São Fraocisco River Basio (Brazil) have documeoted the occurreoce of populatioo structuriog, as reported for Brycon orthotaenia aod Prochilodus argenteus, two commercially importaot species io this basio. We revisited the geoetic structure of these species usiog microsatellites. B. orthotaenia was sampled duriog the spawoiog seasoo aod was aoalyzed usiog five heterologous microsatellites. P. argenteus was collected io the ooo-reproductive seasoo aod geoetic aoalysis was cooducted usiog teo species-specific microsatellites. For both species, geoetic diversity betweeo collectioo sites was similar. Coosideriog B. orthotaenia, F ST aod R ST estimates aod the Bayesiao aoalysis demoostrated sigoificaot differeoces betweeo sites. Two well-defioed populatioos were ideotified io the study area, iodicatiog populatioo structuriog for this species. No sigoificaot differeoces were fouod for P. argenteus. These data provide ioformatioo for koowledge regardiog geoetic structure of migratory fish species, which may cootribute toward the cooservatioo besides the uoderstaodiog the biology aod ecology of these importaot fishery resources.

Estudios geoéticos aoteriores realizados coo poblaciooes de peces migratorios de aguas abajo de la represa de las Tres Marías eo la cueoca del río Sao Fraocisco (Brasil) hao documeotado casos de estructuracióo geoética, como se ha descrito para Brycon orthotaenia y Prochilodus argenteus, dos especies de importaocia comercial. Se revisó la estructura geoética de estas especies utilizaodo microsatélites. Se obtuvieroo muestras de B. orthotaenia duraote la temporada de desove y se aoalizaroo mediaote cioco microsatélites heterólogos. Muestras de P. argenteus fueroo recogidas eo la temporada oo reproductiva y el aoálisis geoético se realizó utilizaodo diez microsatélites específicos para P. argenteus. Para ambas especies, la diversidad geoética eotre los sitios de recoleccióo fue similar. Coosideraodo a B. orthotaenia, las estimaciooes FST y RST y el aoálisis Bayesiaoo demostraroo difereocias sigoificativas eotre los sitios. Se ideotificaroo dos poblaciooes bieo defioidas eo el área de estudio, iodicaodo uoa estructuracióo de la poblacióo de esta especie. No se eocootraroo difereocias sigoificativas para P. argenteus. Estos datos proporciooao ioformacióo para el cooocimieoto sobre la estructura geoética de las especies de peces migratorios, que puede cootribuir a la cooservacióo, además de la compreosióo de la biología y ecología de estos importaotes recursos pesqueros.

Prochilodus is one of the most important fish resources of South America, in addition to the important role it plays in nutrient cycling of Neotropical rivers. In the present study, we describe the isolation and characterization of nine novel microsatellite loci in Prochilodus argenteus. The number of alleles per polymorphic locus varied from 5 (Par76) to 21 (Par85), revealing a total of 116 alleles. The values of observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.629 (Par69) to 0.926 (Par85 and Par86) and from 0.643 (Par66) to 0.931 (Par80), respectively. Furthermore, the ability of these and other previously described microsatellite markers to amplify orthologous loci was tested in two related species, Prochilodus costatus and Prochilodus lineatus. These loci will be useful for studies of population genetic structure in this group of fishes, and in aiding future genetic mapping studies of P. argenteus.

Curimbatá-pióa (Prochilodus costatus Valenciennes, 1850) is an endemic species from the São Francisco River Basin with migratory habits, important ecological role in the ecosystem and relevant fishing importance. The present study aimed to assess the genetic variation in P. costatus in order to investigate its population genetic structure. Genetic variation was studied at three sites downstream the Três Marias dam (Upper-middle São Francisco River, State of Minas Gerais) through six specific microsatellite loci. Fish from the three sites had quite similar genetic diversity levels and no genetic differentiation was detected, suggesting that P. costatus might represent a single reproductive unit in the studied area. Alternatively, the present study was not able to detect putative coexistent and comigrating populations along the main channel river. Our findings could be very helpful for the management and conservation of this fish.

Many factors have contributed to the destruction of fish habitats. Hydroelectric dams, water pollution and other environmental changes have resulted in the eradication of natural stocks. The aim of this study was to detect the genetic variation in Prochilodus marggravii from three collection sites in the area of influence of the Três Marias dam (MG) on the São Francisco river (Brazil), using the RAPD technique. The results obtained revealed that the fish in the downstream region nearest the dam have a higher similarity coefficient than those from the other sampling sites that may be related to differences in environmental characteristics in these regions. Additionaly, significant differences in the band frequencies were observed from one collection site to another. These both findings suggest the occurrence of a structured population and have important implications for the conservation of the genetic variability of distinct natural P. marggravii stocks.

Os estudos citogenéticos em canídeos sul-americanos, de uma forma geral, são raros. Cerdocyon thous é um representante da família Canidae e habita florestas, matas abertas e savanas da américa do Sul. O seu cariótipo é formado por uma grande proporção de cromossomos metacêntricos e submetacêntricos quando comparado com outras espécies desta família e possui também uma grande quantidade de heterocromatina constitutiva, especialmente ao longo do braço curto dos cromossomos submetacêntricos. No presente estudo, diferentes métodos de bandamentos cromossômicos permitiram verificar o caráter heterogêneo dos grandes segmentos heterocromáticos e a proposição de um modelo de organização deste segmento que ocupa todo o braço curto da maioria dos cromossomos de dois braços. Além disso, é descrito um heteromorfismo cromossômico relacionado ao braço curto de um grande cromossomo submetacêntrico, equivalente ao no. 3 do cariótipo de animais de ambos os sexos.

Few cytogenetic studies have been conducted on South American canids. Cerdocyon thous is a representative of the Canidae, living in the forests, open wooded areas and savannahs of South America. Compared to other canid species, C. thous has a large proportion of metacentric and submetacentric chromosomes as well as a large amount of constitutive heterochromatin, especially along the short arm of submetacentric chromosomes. In the present study, different chromosome banding methods were used to characterize the heterogeneous nature of the large heterochromatic segments and to propose an organizational model for this segment that occupies the entire short arm of most two-armed chromosomes. Furthermore, chromosome heteromorphism related to the short arm of large submetacentric chromosome corresponding to no. 3 in male and female karyotypes is described.