Evidence of very low genetic diversity of Cuban gar
The Cuban gar (Atractosteus tristoechus) is an endemic freshwater fish species of Cuba. Among the Lepisosteiformes, this species is one of the most threatened and has the lowest natural distribution range. It is restricted to the southwestern region of the Cuban archipelago. This research is focused on the genetic characterization of captive and wild populations of Zapata Swamp, using two mitochondrial sequences (one in the gene coding cytochrome c oxidase I and the other in the Control Region) and nine microsatellite loci. A total of 47 individuals were included in the study. Low genetic variability was detected: h = 0.202 ± 0.077 and π = 0.0002 ± 0.00008 for mitochondrial sequences; Ho = 0.016 and He=0.025 for microsatellites. Among lepisosteids studied so far, this species showed the lowest genetic diversity. The results suggest that A. tristoechus had a low effective population size over a long period of time and/or the population went through a recent bottleneck. Given the recent demographic trend of this species and the low genetic diversity revealed in the present study, special attention and conservation efforts are urgently needed.
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Contribution biblioteca |
| Language: | Spanish / Castilian |
| Published: |
2016
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| Subjects: | Especie en peligro, Genética de la conservación, Lepisosteidos, Manejo genético en cautividad, Conservation genetics, Endangered species, Genetic management in captivity, Lepisosteid, |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1834/9862 |
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