Detection of natural hybridization and delimitation of two closely related operational taxonomic units of the Astyanax fasciatus (Teleostei: Characidae) complex through integrative approaches

Abstract

Abstract Astyanax is a species-rich, non-monophyletic genus composed of several supraspecific taxa that are poorly delimited. The Astyanax fasciatus complex is one of these taxa and shows high taxonomic complexity. To elucidate the evolutionary history of the A. fasciatus complex from southern South America, we conducted cytogenetic, molecular and morphological analyses in specimens from the Uruguay River basin. Cytogenetic characters demonstrated two closely related operational taxonomic units: Astyanax sp. 1 (8m+22sm+10st+6a), Astyanax sp. 2 (8m+24sm+10st+4a) and natural hybrids (8m+23sm+8st+5a). 5S ribosomal DNA sites were found in two pairs of m chromosomes and one pair of a chromosomes in Astyanax sp. 1, two pairs of a chromosomes and one pair of m chromosomes in Astyanax sp. 2, and three m chromosomes and three a chromosomes in hybrids. As51 sites were found in three chromosomes in Astyanax sp. 1 and in five chromosomes in Astyanax sp. 2 and hybrids. Mitochondrial sequence analyses did not separate the two units and hybrids. Morphological analyses revealed differences between Astyanax sp. 2 and hybrids. This secondary contact with gene flow between lineages that diverged long ago might slow or reverse the differentiation/speciation process. These results help us to understand the evolutionary history of this highly complex clade of Astyanax in southern South America.