Surfing among species, populations and morphotypes: inferring boundaries between two species of new world silversides (Atherinopsidae)

GONZALEZ CASTRO M.; ROSSO, J.J.; MABRAGAÑA E.; DÍAZ DE ASTARLOA, J.M.

COMPTES RENDUS BIOLOGIES

ELSEVIER FRANCE-EDITIONS SCIENTIFIQUES MEDICALES ELSEVIER

Lugar: Paris; Año: 2016 vol. 339 p. 10 - 23

1631-0691

Atherinopsidae are widespread freshwater and shallow marine fish with singulareconomic importance. Morphological, genetical and life cycles differences betweenmarine and estuarine populations were already reported in this family, suggestingongoing speciation. Also, coexistence and interbreeding between closely related specieswere documented. The aim of this study was to infer boundaries among: (A) Odontesthesbonariensis and O. argentinensis at species level, and intermediate morphs; (B) thepopulation of O. argentinensis of Mar Chiquita Lagoon and its marine conspecifics. Toachieve this, we integrated, meristic, Geometrics Morphometrics and DNA Barcodeapproaches. Four groups were discriminated and subsequently characterized accordingto their morphological traits, shape and meristic characters. No shared haplotypesbetween O. bonariensis and O. argentinensis were found. Significative-meristic and bodyshape differences between the Mar Chiquita and marine individuals of O. argentinensiswere found, suggesting they behave as well differentiated populations, or even incipientecological species. The fact that the Odontesthes morphotypes shared haplotypes withboth, O. argentinensis and O. bonariensis, but also possess meristic and morphometricdistinctive traits open new questions related to the origin of this morphogroup