O dna barcode em trachelyopterus (valenciennes, 1840). quantas espécies são suportadas neste gênero amplamente distribuído na região neotropical?

Abstract

Trachelyopterus is a neotropical fish genus, which despite some studies, still lacks adequate understanding of its diversity. This genus is currently comprised of 16 valid species and 4 species inquirendae. Considering the potential of the DNA Barcode tool for investigating biodiversity, especially regarding thedelimitation of species, this work aimed to apply this methodology. 145 sequences cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 (COI) available in the database and 206 new sequences to be deposited were used, totaling 351 with 523 bp alignment, which come from samples of almost all hydrographic basins in the Neotropical region. The analysis generated the Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) using three species delimitation methods to identify MOTUs: the generalized mixed Yule coalescing model (GMYC), the Poisson tree process (PTP) and the Bayesian implementation of the PTP model (bPTP). The different delimitation outputs were compared using the Spdel pipeline, generating consensus (MOTUs Consensus), which indicated 27 MOTUs. From these analyses, it is likely that the diversity of Trachelyopteus is underestimated and misunderstood, in addition, we can clearly indicate that a new revision of the genus is necessary, preferably based on integrative taxonomy.