Genetic variability of wild populations of Leporinus elongatus in the São Domingos River - MS Brazil: a preliminary view on the construction of the hydroelectric plant

Abstract

Most of the electricity used in Brazil comes from hydroelectric plants, mainly due to the great availability of its water resources. However, the construction of these plants denotes serious problems related to migration of native fish and the genetic conservation of stocks. Current study evaluates two wild population of Leporinus elongatus (piapara) located downstream (Population A - PopA) and upstream (Population B - PopB) of the Cachoeira Branca before the construction of the São Domingos hydroelectric plant (HPP) in the Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil. Thirty samples from caudal fins were collected and analyzed for each population. Eighty-nine fragments, including 72 polymorphic ones (80.9%), were analyzed. Low fragments (less than 0.100) in both populations (PopA = 2 and PopB = 3) were identified. Nine fixed fragments (frequency 1.000) (PopA = 3 and PopB = 6), and four exclusive fragments (PopA = 3 and PopB = 1) were also reported. The genetic variability within populations, calculated by Shannon Index and by percentage of polymorphic fragments, indicated high rates of intrapopulation variability (PopA = 0.309 and 61.80% and PopB = 0.392 and 71.90%, respectively). Genetic distance and identity rates (0.089 and 0.915, respectively) were different between populations, whilst AMOVA showed that most variations lie within the populations and not between them. Fst and Nm rates showed moderate genetic differentiation with low numbers of migrants. Results reveal populations with high intra-population genetic variability and genetic differentiation, with low gene flow. The passage ladders of São Domingos HPP should control fish transposition to preserve genetic variability.