Abstract

HERNANDEZ-ZAPATA, Marcela; OCHOA-ORREGO, Luz E.  and  JIMENEZ-SEGURA, Luz F.. DNA Barcode methods reveal diversity of Astroblepus species in the Porce River drainage, Colombia. Actu Biol [online]. 2018, vol.40, n.108, pp.59-71. ISSN 0304-3584.  https://doi.org/10.17533/udea.acbi.v40n108a06.

The genus Astroblepus, is endemic to the Andean region and is represented by 81 valid species inhabiting high mountain rivers from Panama to Bolivia. In Colombia, about 32 species of this genus have been reported, of which 23 were recorded in the Porce River drainage, which indicates that about 71% of species diversity can be found in this area. Morphologically the species of Astroblepus are very similar and the characters traditionally used for their determination are not very diagnostic, which limits their identification at species level. In order to determine the diversity of Astroblepus in the Porce River drainage, 129 individuals were analyzed using genetic identification tools through the sequencing of the 580bp Cytochrome Oxidase subunit I (COI) gene and an analysis based on morphometry. The genetic analyses and the method of delimitation of species "General mixed Yule-coalescent", indicated the presence of 12 taxonomic entities, which were supported by genetic distances and by 13 body measurements based on corporal proportions. The results indicate that the diversity of species has been overestimated in this river and highlight the importance to integrate different methodologies in the delimitation species studies.

Keywords : mitochondrial DNA; COI gene; GMYC; Neotropical ichthyofauna; genetic distances; morphometrics.

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