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Chromosomal population structuring in carangids (Perciformes) between the north-eastern and south-eastern coasts of Brazil


IV Accioly
LAC Bertollo
GWWF Costa
UP Jacobina
WF Molina

Abstract

The family Carangidae comprises 151 species, of which only 19 have been so far karyotyped, including a few representatives from the Western Atlantic Ocean. This study compared the cytogenetic features of three Atlantic carangids, Chloroscombrus chrysurus, Trachinotus goodei and T. falcatus, from north-eastern Brazilian coast, with previously obtained cytogenetic data from southern populations. All species presented 2n = 48 chromosomes. Chloroscombrus chrysurus showed a conserved karyotypic macrostructure (2n = 48a, FN = 48) whereas T. goodei (2m + 2sm + 44a; FN = 52) and T. falcatus (2n = 10m/sm + 38a; FN = 58) presented more diversified karyotypes. Data showed that the samples of C. chrysurus from the north-eastern and south-eastern regions did not differ cytogenetically. However, the frequency or position of ribosomal sites (Ag-NOR/18S rDNA) were effective in discriminating the populations of Trachinotus between these coastal regions. The distinct chromosomal patterns suggest a historical genetic fractionating of the Trachinotus populations along the Brazilian coast.

Keywords: Chloroscombrus chrysurus, fish cytogenetics, population structure, ribosomal sites, Trachinotus falcatus, Trachinotus goodei

African Journal of Marine Science 2012, 34(3): 383–389

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eISSN: 1814-2338
print ISSN: 1814-232X