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Spinal malformations in a naturally isolated Neotropical fish population
Franciele Fernanda Kerniske1, Jonathan Pena Castro1, Luz Elena De la Ossa-Guerra1,2
1Graduate Program in Evolutionary Biology, State University of Ponta Grossa, Ponta Grossa, Paraná, Brazil.
Peerj
|November 1, 2021
Summary
Isolated fish populations in Brazil
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Ichthyology
- Developmental biology
Background:
- Isolated freshwater ecosystems are rare globally.
- Vila Velha State Park (VVSP) in Brazil features isolated sinkholes ('furnas').
- Fish in these 'furnas', like *Psalidodon* aff. *fasciatus*, exhibit vertebral malformations due to isolation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze geometric morphology in digital radiographs.
- To identify congenital deformations in *Psalidodon* aff. *fasciatus* within VVSP's 'Furna 2'.
- To investigate the impact of isolation on fish populations.
Main Methods:
- Geometric morphometrics analysis.
- Digital radiography of fish specimens.
- Comparative analysis of vertebral and corporal morphology.
Main Results:
- Prevalence of spinal deformities, including variable caudal vertebrae count and spinal curvature.
- Flattened body shape observed in affected fish.
- Females showed higher susceptibility to deformities than males.
Conclusions:
- Deformations indicate inbreeding and lack of gene flow in isolated populations.
- These fish populations serve as valuable models for evolutionary and developmental ('evo-devo') research.
- Conservation efforts may be needed for these unique, isolated fish.
