Edna J. Márquez

Geometric morphometric analysis of Colombian Anopheles albimanus (Diptera: Culicidae) reveals significant effect of environmental factors on wing traits and presence of a metapopulation

Anopheles albimanus is a major malaria mosquito vector in Colombia. In the present study, wing variability (size and shape) in An. albimanus populations from Colombian Maracaibo and Chocó bio-geographical eco-regions and the relationship of these phenotypic traits with environmental factors were evaluated. Microsatellite and morphometric data facilitated a comparison of the genetic and phenetic structure of this species. Wing size was influenced by elevation and relative humidity, whereas wing shape was affected by these two variables and also by rainfall, latitude, temperature and eco-region. Significant differences in mean shape between populations and eco-regions were detected, but they were smaller than those at the intra-population level. Correct assignment based on wing shape was low at the population level (<58%) and only slightly higher (>70%) at the eco-regional level, supporting the low population structure inferred from microsatellite data. Wing size was similar among populations with no significant differences between eco-regions. Population relationships in the genetic tree did not agree with those from the morphometric data; however, both datasets consistently reinforced a panmictic population of An. albimanus. Overall, site-specific population differentiation is not strongly supported by wing traits or genotypic data. We hypothesize that the metapopulation structure of An. albimanus throughout these Colombian eco-regions is favoring plasticity in wing traits, a relevant characteristic of species living under variable environmental conditions and colonizing new habitats.

Mitochondrial DNA divergence between wild and laboratory populations of Anopheles albimanus Wiedemann (Diptera: Culicidae)

Studies of insect vectors may be facilitated by using laboratory colonies. However, it has been suggested that the colony insects are not representative of natural populations, sometimes yealding to erroneous interpretations of the intraspecific genetic variation between the individuals. In the present study the variability of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome b was evaluated among a closed laboratory colony of Anopheles albimanus that was founded 20 years ago and the field population from which it was derived. The analyses revealed the presence of five and three nucleotide haplotypes in the wild and colony populations, respectively. Wild individuals presented greater variability than those of the colony based on the number of polymorphic sites, haplotype diversity, nucleotide diversity and mean values of nucleotide differences. The mean and net numbers of nucleotide substitutions per site between populations and the significant FST value calculated (0,37179, P = 0.05) indicate that there is a considerable degree of genetic differentiation between them. The phylogenetic tree showed that the colony haplotypes appear to be derived from the wild population. These results suggest a great genetic variability in wild specimens compared with the laboratory ones as a consequence of a long time of colonization.

Mitochondrial genome of the endangered marine gastropod Strombus gigas Linnaeus, 1758 (Mollusca: Gastropoda).

Abstract The queen conch Strombus gigas is an endangered marine gastropod of significant economic importance across the Greater Caribbean region. This work reports for the first time the complete mitochondrial genome of S. gigas, obtained by FLX 454 pyrosequencing. The mtDNA genome encodes for 13 proteins, 22 tRNAs and 2 ribosomal RNAs. In addition, the coding sequences and gene synteny were similar to other previously reported mitogenomes of gastropods.

Variations of body geometry in Brycon henni (Teleostei: Characiformes, Bryconidae) in different rivers and streams

Landmark-based geometric morphometrics were used to evaluate the effect of flow and depth in the water column on the body size and shape of Brycon henni from river and stream populations. The dendrogram showed that stream populations clustered apart and showed significantly smaller centroid size and narrower bodies than river populations, indicating a role for flow and depth on whole body morphometric variation. The results are concordant with morphometric variation described in other fish species and provide the first insights into phenotypic variation in natural populations of B. henni.

Mitochondrial genome of the Caribbean king crab Damithrax spinosissimus (Lamarck, 1818) (Decapoda: Majidae)

Abstract The Caribbean king crab Damithrax spinosissimus (former Mithrax spinosissimus) is a large brachyuran in the tropical and subtropical western Atlantic. This is the first report of the complete mitochondrial genome of D. spinosissimus, which was pyrosequenced by FLX 454 technology. The mtDNA encodes for 13 proteins, 22 tRNAs and 2 ribosomal RNAs. In addition, the coding sequences and gene synteny were similar to other previously reported mitogenomes of brachyuran.

Metagenomic analysis of orange colored protrusions from the muscle of Queen Conch Lobatus gigas (Linnaeus, 1758)

The endangered marine gastropod, Lobatus gigas, is an important fishery resource in the Caribbean region. Microbiological and parasitological research of this species have been poorly addressed despite its role in ecological fitness, conservation status and prevention of potential pathogenic infections. This study identified taxonomic groups associated with orange colored protrusions in the muscle of queen conchs using histological analysis, 454 pyrosequencing, and a combination of PCR amplification and automated Sanger sequencing. The molecular approaches indicate that the etiological agent of the muscle protrusions is a parasite belonging to the subclass Digenea. Additionally, the scope of the molecular technique allowed the detection of bacterial and fungi clades in the assignment analysis. This is the first evidence of a digenean infection in the muscle of this valuable Caribbean resource.

Development and characterization of 24 polymorphic microsatellite loci for the freshwater fish Ichthyoelephas longirostris (Characiformes: Prochilodontidae)

The Neotropical freshwater fish Ichthyoelephas longirostris (Characiformes: prochilodontidae) is a short-distance migratory species endemic to Colombia. This study developed for the first time a set of 24 polymorphic microsatellite loci by using next-generation sequencing to explore the population genetics of this commercially exploited species. Nineteen of these loci were used to assess the genetic diversity and structure of 193 I. longirostris in three Colombian rivers of the Magdalena basin. Results showed that a single genetic stock circulates in the Cauca River, whereas other single different genetic stock is present in the rivers Samaná Norte and San Bartolomé-Magdalena. Additionally, I. longirostris was genetically different among and across rivers. This first insight about the population genetic structure of I. longirostris is crucial for monitoring the genetic diversity, the management and conservation of its populations, and complement the genetic studies in Prochilodontidae.

Mitochondrial genome of the Trans-Andean shovelnose catfish Sorubim cuspicaudus (Siluriformes, Pimelodidae).

Abstract The Trans-Andean shovelnose catfish Sorubim cuspicaudus is the largest species within the genus Sorubim. In this work, the pyrosequencing technology was used to obtain the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of S. cuspicaudus. The 16,544 bp molecule contains 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNAs, 2 ribosomal RNAs and exhibit perfect synteny with other South-American catfishes.

Complete mitochondrial genome of the Neotropical catfish Pseudoplatystoma magdaleniatum (Siluriformes, Pimelodidae)

Abstract The Neotropical freshwater fish Pseudoplatystoma magdaleniatum is a trans-Andean species that belongs to the family of long-whiskered catfishes (family Pimelodidae). In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of P. magdaleniatum was sequenced using the MiSeq Illumina platform. The complete circular mitogenome is 16,568 bp in length, exhibiting an average GC content of 44.19% and codes for 13 proteins, 2 ribosomal RNA genes and 22 transfer RNA genes. Additionally, it exhibits perfect synteny and similar length with the mitogenome of Pimelodus pictus.

Molecular and morphometric characterization of two dental morphs of Saccodon dariensis (Parodontidae).

This study reports for the first time the roles of genetic and body phenotypic variation in two Saccodon dariensis dental morphs. Results showed a lack of ancient mitochondrial differentiation between morphs and body variations concordant with genetic polymorphism or differential plastic responses to diet quality and foraging strategies of S. dariensis.