The distribution of South American galaxiid fishes: the role of biological traits and post glacial history

CUSSAC, VÍCTOR ENRIQUE; ORTUBAY, SILVIA; IGLESIAS, GUSTAVO; MILANO, DANIELA; LATTUCA, MARÍA EUGENIA; BARRIGA, JUAN PABLO; BATTINI, MIGUEL ÁNGEL; GROSS, MIGUEL

JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY

Blackwell Publishing

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2004 vol. 31 p. 103 - 122

0305-0270

Aim The aim of this work is to update the distribution data of Galaxiidae in South America, relating extant distribution to physiological and reproductive characteristics of the species, latitude, temperature, and post-glacial opportunities for colonization. Location Lakes and Rivers of Patagonia. Methods We compared, and eventually reconsidered, general data about distributions based on the original literature about capture sites, incorporating several published and unpublished data to the analysis of the biological traits and distribution of Galaxiidae. Results The more consistent issue in the comprehension of galaxiid biogeography in South America to establish landlocked populations. Different founding events in landlocked populations of Galaxias maculatus suggest the possible existence of older and younger landlocked populations. This difference in the time since the establishment of lacustrine populations could have been expressed in their ability for colonization of post-glacial areas. Galaxias maculates, Aplochiton zebra and Brachygalaxias are more clearly excluded from the post-glacial area than G. platei. For all the species we could note a more abundant record of lake populations at the areaof glacial refuges. It could be noted that the most successful species, Galaxias platei, is a specialized bottom dweller. Deep bottom dwelling helps to endure winter constraints and it appears to be an alternative to the colonization of the littoral and limnetic zone of post-glacial lakes, the preferred habitat of the other Patagonian fish epecies. Main conclusions At the end of this process of post-glacial colonization, in the beginning of the twentieth century, man introduced several salmonid species in Patagonia. In addition, antropogenic actions had its more recent consequences in global warming. Nowadays we were able to observe new localities for Brazilian fishes into the Austral Subregion and expect some changes in the distribution of Galaxiidae. Northern limits for all species and southern limits for landlocked G. maculates, Brachigalaxias bullcki and Aplochiton zebra, could be displaced southward. Probably, the species less affected by the changes will be G. platei. These predictions could be accurately formulated using the model of B.J. Shuter & J.R. Post (1990) Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 119, 314-336, when biological database on the species are completed.