Genetic Diversity in Populations of Mediterranean Fruit Flies in North-Eastern Brazil

This study aimed at determining the population genetic structure of Mediterranean fruit flies (Ceratitis capitata) in North-eastern Brazil, so as to improve our understanding of the viability of the inter-simple sequences repeat (ISSR) markers in Brazilian populations, along with inferences on population genetic composition which can be used in management programs. For this, ISSR markers were used in groups collected from four municipalities in this region. Primers were polymorphic, revealing moderate expected heterozigosity, with 80% of the variation occurring within populations and moderate structure. Bayesian analysis revealed K = 3, consistent with pairwise FST and indicating low structure between Barra do Choça and Planalto, and moderate structure between Caraíbas and Planalto. Data indicated high diversity, suggesting two interpretations: the analyzed populations arose from a single population and are now under structuring processes, or populations had different origins, but are currently connected by gene flow. Thus, ISSR primers were affective in obtaining information about genetic structure of C. capitata populations in North-eastern Brazil, as evidenced by high polymorphism and separation or grouping of populations according to their allelic compositions. Furthermore, this paper provides useful information for understanding the genetic diversity, population structure and gene flow of C. capitata populations in this region and developing regional strategies for the control and management of the species.

A new catfish of the genus Trichomycterus from the Rio Paraíba do Sul Basin, south-eastern Brazil, a supposedly migrating species (Siluriformes, Trichomycteridae)

A new species of the catfish genus Trichomycterus is described from the Rio Paraíba do Sul, south-eastern Brazil. This species exhibits some morphological character states that are unique amongst congeners, including a robust opercle and a long interopercle with numerous odontodes (50–60 opercular and 90–100 interopercular), a black bar on the basal portion of the caudal fin and a dark brown flank with a well delimited dorsal yellow stripe. It also exhibits some morphological traits that are uncommon amongst congeners, such as the presence of nine pectoral-fin rays. The presence of a shallow hyomandibular outgrowth and a ventrally expanded pre-opercular ventral flap suggests that this species is closely related to T. melanopygius, T. pradensis and T. tete. The new species also differs from T. melanopygius, T. pradensis and T. tete by having an emarginate caudal fin and a single median supra-orbital pore S6. Anecdotal evidence suggests that T. largoperculatus and T. pradensis have migratory habits, a condition not previously reported for eastern South American trichomycterines.

A new small-celled diatom from Brazil - Luticola minutissima sp. nov., with comparison to the type of the Antarctic L. neglecta Zidarova, Levkov & Van de Vijv

The samples for this study were collected from terrestrial mosses and lichens growing on palm tree trunks and concrete walls in the city of Rio de Janeiro, south-eastern Brazil. During the investigation on diatom diversity, a new species from the genus Luticola was found. The new species occurred individually at all sampling sites. The aim of this paper is to provide a morphological and ecological description of Luticola minutissima sp. nov. from an aerophytic environment. The species is characterized by a small valve size (5.2–16.8 μm length and 3.7–4.4 wide) and abruptly hooked proximal raphe endings (ca. 90-degree angle). Additionally for comparison, type material of the most similar species, Luticola neglecta Zidarova, Levkov & Van de Vijver, was studied and new information for the ultrastructure of the latter species is provided as well.

Phylogeography of Hypomasticus copelandii Reveals Distinct Genetic Lineages along Atlantic Coastal Drainages of Eastern Brazil (Teleostei, Anostomidae)

Hypomasticus copelandii is a Neotropical freshwater fish widely distributed across coastal drainages of southeastern Brazil, a highly impacted region of South America. The interspecific phylogenetic relationships within the genus and the taxonomic status of the species remain uncertain. Using two mitochondrial and one nuclear locus, we performed a phylogenetic, species delimitation, and time-calibrated analyses to test the hypothesis that H. copelandii is a species complex currently delimited by different Atlantic coastal systems. Results indicate that H. copelandii presents two well-delimited genetic lineages: one in the northern drainages of the Jucuruçu, Mucuri and Doce rivers, and the other in the southern region represented by the Paraíba do Sul River Basin. The time-calibrated phylogeny indicated a split between the two genetic lineages at around 2.8 million years ago (Ma), which might be related to headwater capture events during the Plio-Pleistocene. The discovery of a distinct genetic lineage for H. copelandii suggests distinct management plans for the northern and southern drainages. Such hidden diversity within the H. copelandii provides useful information for taxonomy and conservation across a severely impacted region of Brazil.

Cololobus ruschianus (Vernonieae, Asteraceae), a Threatened Narrow Endemic Species from Atlantic Forest Inselbergs, Espírito Santo, Brazil

Abstract— The Atlantic Forest is the most species rich vegetation in Brazil and holds several phytophysiognomies, including the vegetation on inselbergs, which is a very stressful xeric environment that selects for very specialized biota. Cololobus is an endemic genus from Atlantic Forest inselbergs of eastern Brazil, and Cololobus ruschianus is a new species based on morphological evidence, differing from other species of the genus by its morphological traits in petioles, subinvolucral bracts, and outer involucral bracts. Cololobus ruschianus occurs in Santa Teresa, Espírito Santo State, Brazil and would likely be considered Critically Endangered (CR), based on the criteria of the IUCN red list.

Chemotaxonomy of Five South American Species of the Triatoma genus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) Based on Their Cuticle Hydrocarbon Pattern

The Triatoma sordida subcomplex traditionally included four triatomine species, T. sordida, Triatoma garciabesi, Triatoma guasayana, and Triatoma patagonica, distributed in the Southern Cone of South America. These species have a large intraspecific variability together with an overall similarity, making difficult to establish their taxonomic status. Many cytogenetic, morphometric, and molecular markers have been applied to address this. Recent studies have posed concerns on the inclusion of T. guasayana and T. patagonica within the subcomplex. Also, T. sordida from Argentina has been designed as a new species, Triatoma rosai. Using the cuticular hydrocarbon pattern as chemotaxonomic marker, the relationships among several populations of these species were analyzed by capillary gas chromatography and linear discriminant analysis along 25 collection sites in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay. T. sordida and T. rosai populations were differentially clustered in two CHC-based groups: “Group 1” included T. sordida from Eastern Brazil, Eastern Paraguay, and the Bolivian populations from La Paz and Izozog G1; “Group 2” included T. rosai, and T. sordida from Izozog G2 (Bolivia), and Western Paraguay. Whereas T. garciabesi remained closely related to T. sordida and T. rosai, T. guasayana, and T. patagonica were clearly separated from the species of the T. sordida subcomplex. Our results agree with those from other several techniques suggesting that the taxonomy of the T. sordida subcomplex should be revised.