Featured Papers in Taxonomy, Evolution, and Biogeography Section

A special issue of Fishes (ISSN 2410-3888). This special issue belongs to the section "Taxonomy, Evolution, and Biogeography".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2023) | Viewed by 7671

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29045, USA
Interests: conservation genetics; evolution; fishes; phylogenetics; population genetics
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Guest Editor
National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Mississippi Laboratories, Pascagoula, MS 39567, USA
Interests: elasmobranch; shark; distribution; life history and taxonomy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue “Featured Papers in Taxonomy, Evolution, and Biogeography Section” will present a collection of feature papers on recent research addressing the taxonomy, evolution, and biogeography of fishes. Our focus is on fishes, whether inhabiting freshwater, estuarine or marine systems, and various approaches, including traditional taxonomic and more modern molecular approaches.

This Special Issue is seeking papers that feature original research as well as review articles. The journal offers high-quality peer review and a rapid publication process. Submissions to this Special Issue are now open and will remain so until 31st January 2023. Invited papers may be considered for a full or partial waiver of the publication fee. If you would like to be invited to contribute to this Special Issue, please send the (tentative) title and abstract of your potential paper/review to the Guest Editor listed below. We look forward to receiving your contribution.

Prof. Dr. Joseph Quattro
Dr. William B. Driggers
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Fishes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 12894 KiB  
Article
A Poorly Known Catfish Clade in an Endangered Neotropical Biodiversity Hotspot: Relationships and Distribution Patterns of the Cambeva variegata Group (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae)
by Wilson J. E. M. Costa, José Leonardo O. Mattos, Valter M. Azevedo-Santos, Caio R. M. Feltrin, Pedro F. Amorim, Felipe P. Ottoni, Paulo J. Vilardo and Axel M. Katz
Fishes 2024, 9(4), 116; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes9040116 - 24 Mar 2024
Viewed by 793
Abstract
The Cambeva variegata group (CVG) is endemic to a region situated in the intersection of two endangered biodiversity hotspots, Cerrado and Atlantic Forest, and drained by two important South American river basins, the upper Rio Paraná and upper Rio São Francisco basins. Presently, [...] Read more.
The Cambeva variegata group (CVG) is endemic to a region situated in the intersection of two endangered biodiversity hotspots, Cerrado and Atlantic Forest, and drained by two important South American river basins, the upper Rio Paraná and upper Rio São Francisco basins. Presently, CVG comprises two nominal species, besides some still undescribed. We first performed a molecular phylogenetic analysis (total of 3368 bp) for five species of the CVG and 30 outgroups, which supported the monophyly of the CVG and its inclusion in Cambeva. Most morphological character states distinguishing the CVG from congeners are also present in Scleronema, possibly consisting of plesiomorphic features. We also performed the first time-calibrated phylogeny of the group, which supported possible relationships between present geographical distribution patterns and palaeogeographical events. The estimated time of origin of CVG in the Middle Miocene is nearly contemporaneous to a past hydrographical configuration when part of the upper Rio Paraná basin was connected to the Rio São Francisco basin. The first CVG lineage split occurring in the Miocene end corresponds to a major break in that palaeo basin. Species diversification between the Pliocene and early Pleistocene is compatible with final drainage rearrangement. This study highlights the urgent need for more detailed studies on the diversity and phylogenetic relationships of still poorly known organisms in this highly diverse and threatened region. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Featured Papers in Taxonomy, Evolution, and Biogeography Section)
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16 pages, 5182 KiB  
Article
First Records of a Hydrolagus Species (Holocephali: Chimaeridae) from Reunion Island and Mayotte (Southwestern Indian Ocean)
by Bernard Séret and Jean-Pascal Quod
Fishes 2023, 8(10), 522; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes8100522 - 20 Oct 2023
Viewed by 1119
Abstract
Two specimens of large blackish chimaeras of the genus Hydrolagus were caught, one off Reunion Island and the other off Mayotte in the southwestern Indian Ocean. The specimens, an adult male of 710 mm BDL and a female of 870 m BDL, are [...] Read more.
Two specimens of large blackish chimaeras of the genus Hydrolagus were caught, one off Reunion Island and the other off Mayotte in the southwestern Indian Ocean. The specimens, an adult male of 710 mm BDL and a female of 870 m BDL, are described, compared to similar species (i.e., having a large size, over 110 cm TL, dark blackish colour, and rather long conical snout), and tentatively identified to the small-eyed rabbitfish Hydrolagus affinis, pending a taxonomic revision of the large blackish chimaeras is completed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Featured Papers in Taxonomy, Evolution, and Biogeography Section)
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39 pages, 10964 KiB  
Article
Molecular Phylogeny, Taxonomy and Distribution Patterns of Trichomycterine Catfishes in the Middle Rio Grande Drainage, South-Eastern Brazil (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae)
by Wilson J. E. M. Costa, Valter M. Azevedo-Santos, José Leonardo O. Mattos and Axel M. Katz
Fishes 2023, 8(4), 206; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes8040206 - 15 Apr 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1888
Abstract
The Rio Grande drainage plays a key role in supplying water and electricity to large urban centres, but some components of its rich ichthyofauna are still poorly known. Based on our field inventories in the middle section of the drainage, we recognised 10 [...] Read more.
The Rio Grande drainage plays a key role in supplying water and electricity to large urban centres, but some components of its rich ichthyofauna are still poorly known. Based on our field inventories in the middle section of the drainage, we recognised 10 trichomycterine endemic species, of which 6 species are new and described herein. A molecular analysis (2600 bp for 43 taxa) indicated that the species of both subgenera do not form monophyletic groups. One species of the subgenus Cryptocambeva is closely related to species from the inner Brazilian Plateau, whereas other species of this subgenus are closely related to species endemic to smaller coastal basins. The species of the subgenus Paracambeva belong to different lineages of a clade endemic to the Rio Grande drainage. These species are diagnosed by the characters of their external morphology and osteology. A key to species identification is provided. The species distribution patterns support delimitation of three areas of endemism, which may have a relevant role for proposals of conservation strategies: the Uberaba, the São João-Sapucaí, and the Tamborete areas. The last one, a small area confined between the Serra da Canastra and the Rio Grande at the Furnas dam, is particularly important for sheltering three endemic trichomycterines and two loricariid catfishes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Featured Papers in Taxonomy, Evolution, and Biogeography Section)
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11 pages, 1913 KiB  
Article
Genetic Structure and Phylogeography of Commercial Mytilus unguiculatus in China Based on Mitochondrial COI and Cytb Sequences
by Xuelian Wei, Zeqin Fu, Jiji Li, Baoying Guo and Yingying Ye
Fishes 2023, 8(2), 89; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes8020089 - 02 Feb 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1670
Abstract
In order to study the genetic structure and population geographic distribution pattern of coastal mussel populations in the coast of China, mitochondrial DNA (COI and Cytb genes) were used to analyze the genetic diversity, genetic structure, and population history dynamics of Mytilus [...] Read more.
In order to study the genetic structure and population geographic distribution pattern of coastal mussel populations in the coast of China, mitochondrial DNA (COI and Cytb genes) were used to analyze the genetic diversity, genetic structure, and population history dynamics of Mytilus unguiculatus in the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea. We detected high levels of genetic diversity in seven populations of M. unguiculatus. A total of 34 haplotypes of COI genes and 29 haplotypes of Cytb were obtained. The haplotype diversity of COI ranged from around 0.77 to 0.93 (Cytb: 0.83~0.91). The nucleotide diversity of COI ranged from around 0.0044 to 0.0064 (Cytb: 0.0049~0.0063). The coefficient of genetic differentiation (FST) of COI ranged from around 0.031 to 0.080, and Cytb ranged from around 0.028 to 0.039. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) and a phylogenetic tree showed that the genetic structure was relatively weak, and there was no clear population differentiation. The neutrality test results showed that Tajima’s D value and Fu’s Fs value were not significant, and no significant population demographic events, including population expansion or population bottleneck, were detected in the samples. The Bayesian skyline graph analysis showed that the effective population size has been relatively stable for nearly 10,000 years, without any large population fluctuations. It was speculated that the seven populations in the present study should belong to the same group. This study provides a comprehensive survey of the genetic characteristics of M. unguiculatus, filling the gaps among related studies. It provides theoretical support and material accumulation for seed selection and breeding, genetic resources’ protection, and breeding management in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Featured Papers in Taxonomy, Evolution, and Biogeography Section)
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33 pages, 5864 KiB  
Article
Morpho-Molecular Discordance? Re-Approaching Systematics of Cambeva (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae) from the Guaratuba-Babitonga-Itapocu Area, Southern Brazil
by Wilson J. E. M. Costa, Caio R. M. Feltrin, José Leonardo O. Mattos, Roger H. Dalcin, Vinicius Abilhoa and Axel M. Katz
Fishes 2023, 8(2), 63; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes8020063 - 20 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1676
Abstract
A recent field inventory focusing on catfishes of the trichomycterine genus Cambeva detected the occurrence of two morphotypes, C. barbosae and C. cubataonis, in the Guaratuba-Babitonga-Itapocu area (GBIA) of southern Brazil, reporting some discordance with results of coalescent-based approaches for species delimitation [...] Read more.
A recent field inventory focusing on catfishes of the trichomycterine genus Cambeva detected the occurrence of two morphotypes, C. barbosae and C. cubataonis, in the Guaratuba-Babitonga-Itapocu area (GBIA) of southern Brazil, reporting some discordance with results of coalescent-based approaches for species delimitation that indicated different estimates of species number. Contrastingly, based on examination of characters taken from the external morphology and osteology, we here recognised six species of Cambeva in GBIA: C. cf. botuvera, a polymorphic and geographically widespread species; C. cubataonis, endemic to the Rio Cubatão do Norte; and four new species, two endemic to the Rio Itapocu basin, one endemic to the Baía de Babitonga system and one endemic to the Baía de Guaratuba system. We performed a molecular phylogenetic analysis indicating that Cambeva comprises three major clades, the alpha-, beta- and gama-clades, with C. cf. botuvera and a clade comprising C. cubataonis and three new species belonging to the beta-clade and another new species belonging to the gama-clade. We concluded that species here recognised are not in fact incongruent with results of that recent study when taxa are correctly identified by a representative sample of morphological characters, highlighting the importance of osteological characters for delimiting trichomycterine species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Featured Papers in Taxonomy, Evolution, and Biogeography Section)
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