No abstract

A revision of the avian Neotropical genus Automolus and the Furnariidae family points to the paraphyly of A. infuscatus and reveals a species complex comprising A. infuscatus, A. ochrolaemus, A. paraensis, A. leucophthalmus, A. lammi and A. subulatus, the latter historically classified in the genus Hyloctistes. Detailed knowledge of the taxonomy, geographic distribution, phylogenetic relationship and divergence times of a taxon allows exploration of its evolutionary history and the testing of different scenarios of diversification. In this context, we studied the A. infuscatus complex using molecular data in order to unveil its cryptic diversity and reveal its evolutionary history. For that we sequenced two mitochondrial (ND2 and cytb) and three nuclear markers (G3PDH, ACO, Fib7) for 302 individuals belonging to all species in the complex and most described subspecies. Our analysis supports the paraphyly of A. infuscatus, indicating the existence of at least two distinct clades not closely related. The remaining species were all recovered as monophyletic. Notwithstanding, a well-structured intraspecific diversity was found with 19 lineages suggesting substantial cryptic diversity within the described species. A. subulatus was recovered within the complex, corroborating its position inside the genus. In spite of the high congruence between distributions of different lineages, with several sister lineages currently separated by the same barriers, the temporal incongruence between divergences over the same barriers reveals a complex evolutionary history. While older events might be related to the emergence of barriers such as the Andes and major Amazonian rivers, younger events suggest dispersal after the consolidation of those barriers. Our analysis suggests that the complex had its origin around 6million years (Ma) and inhabited Western Amazonia in Late Miocene-Early Pliocene. Considering the riparian habit of species in its sister clade, the rise and early diversifications of the complex may be related to the establishment of terra firme forests as it changed from a floodplain to a fluvial system. The late Amazonian colonization by A. subulatus and A. ochrolaemus lineages may have been hampered by the previous existence of well established A. infuscatus lineages in the region.

The Manaus harlequin frog is an evolutionarily significant clade within the Atelopus hoogmoedi species complex. Analyses of 16S and COI concatenated sequences support Atelopus from the Manaus region as an evolutionary significant unit, sister of all species of a Guiana Shield clade. A previous study showed that subtle changes in stream characteristics influence the Manaus harlequin frog occurrence and density variation at local‐scale in a reserve on the outskirts of Manaus. As deforestation is approaching areas where the Manaus harlequin frog occurs, we asked how site and landscape heterogeneity influence the geographic boundaries, occurrence patterns, and density variation of the Manaus harlequin frog. We searched for the frog in 80 plots that measured 250 m by 4 m on banks of first‐ to third‐order streams during the rainy seasons in 2012–2013 and 2016–2019. The plot distribution covered all likely areas of occurrence of the Manaus harlequin frog and extended to the areas where it is substituted by its geographically closest relative on the Guiana Shield. Ecological drivers related to climate, flooding events, and forest structure apparently restrict the Manaus harlequin frog to a patchy distribution in a narrow portion of the interfluve between the Negro and Uatuma Rivers. Densities of individuals varied in response to subtle changes in floodplain and stream characteristics. The Manaus harlequin frog is associated with a very specific habitat that is directly affected by the growth of Manaus, the largest city in Amazonia. We conclude that it is endangered and urgent actions are required for its conservation.

The objective of this work was to evaluate 41 microsatellite markers for heterologous amplifications in piracanjuba (Brycon orbignyanus). Some markers were tested for the first time. Loci were optimized for PCR conditions and applied to a sample of 49 individuals. Thirty-one loci resulted in PCR product formation, whereas ten loci yielded intelligible polymorphic patterns in the evaluated sample and can be used for amplifications in this species. From the evaluated markers, four loci (BoM1, BoM13, Bh6, and Bh16) are valid to be applied in the study of piracanjuba.Index terms: Brycon orbignyanus, aquaculture, hatchery, molecular markers. Otimização de microssatélites heterólogos em piracanjubaResumo -O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar 41 marcadores microssatélites para amplificação heteróloga em piracanjuba (Brycon orbignyanus). Alguns marcadores foram testados pela primeira vez. Os loci foram otimizados para condições de PCR e aplicados a uma amostra de 49 indivíduos. Trinta e um loci resultaram em formação de produtos de PCR, enquanto dez loci resultaram em padrões polimórficos inteligíveis na amostra avaliada e podem ser usados para amplificações nessa espécie. Dos marcadores avaliados, quatro loci (BoM1, BoM13, Bh6 e Bh16) são válidos para aplicação em estudos em piracanjuba.Termos para indexação: Brycon orbignyanus, aquacultura, procriação, marcadores moleculares.

Although the Amazon has the greatest diversity of primates, there are still taxonomic uncertainties for many taxa, such as the species of the Saguinus mystax group. The most geographically broadly distributed and phenotypically diverse species in this group is S. mystax, and its phenotypic diversity has been recognized as three subspecies—S. mystax mystax, S. mystax pileatus and S. mystax pluto—with non-overlapping geographic distributions. In this sense, we carried out an extensive field survey in their distribution areas and used a framework of taxonomic hypothesis testing of genomic data combined with an integrative taxonomic decision-making framework to carry out a taxonomic revision of S. mystax. Our tests supported the existence of three lineages/species. The first species corresponds to Saguinus mystax mystax from the left bank of the Juruá River, which was raised to the species level, and we also discovered and described animals from the Juruá–Tefé interfluve previously attributed to S. mystax mystax as a new species. The subspecies S. m. pileatus and S. m. pluto are recognized as a single species, under a new nomenclatural combination. However, given their phenotypic distinction and allopatric distribution, they potentially are a manifestation of an early stage of speciation, and therefore we maintain their subspecific designations.