First DNA barcode reference library for the identification of South American freshwater fish from Lower Paraná River

DÍAZ, J.; VILLANOVA, G.V.; DEL PASO, F.; BRANCOLINI, F.; GRINBERG, A.; ARRANZ, S.E.

Guelph

Conferencia; 6ª International Barcode of Life Conference; 2015

iBOL

Background: The Lower Paraná River floodplain comprises one of thelargest and biodiverse wetland systems of South America. More than 164freshwater fish species have been described in the lower Paraná River,but most lack associated molecular information, and many lack barcodereference sequences available through the international Barcode of Life(iBOL.org) project. The present study aims to assemble a comprehensivereference sequence library for fishes of the lower Paraná River and toevaluate DNA barcode effectiveness for their identification. Results: Taxonomicidentification of 309 fish specimens resulted in 75 species (70genera, 31 families, and 10 orders) from the lower Paraná River. COI DNAfragments were obtained for all specimens. The average K2P geneticdistance between specimens was 0.5% within species, 12.41% within genera,and 20.15% within families. The average divergence within conspecificspecimens was 24-fold lower than the average found in congenericspecies, evidencing the existence of a ?barcode gap? that allowed forunambiguous discrimination of 97% of species. Interspecific genetic distancesranged from 4.06% to 23.03% (average of 14.45%), with the exceptionof two species of the genus Odontesthes (O. bonariensis and O. perugiae)in which members showed a minimum genetic distance of 0%. In addition,four species showed deep intraspecific divergence (>2%): Hopliasmalabaricus (7.59%), Brycon orbignyanus (6.68%), Potamotrygon motoro (3.32%),and Cnesterodon decemmaculatus (3.16%). Significance:Areference barcodesequence library of fishes of the lower Paraná River is presented for thefirst time and for future use in identification of these species and for usein other applications. Five new records were generated and uploaded toBOLD (Parastegophilus maculatus, Pseudohemiodon laticeps, Magalonema argentinum,Auchenipterus nigripinnis, and Xyliphius sp.). In addition, groupsthat deserve further taxonomic study and one exotic species were identified.