Study for the recognition of the specific identity of the remaining population of the Long-finned Carp Agosia chrysogaster Girard, 1856 of the Sonoyta River from the variation of its mitochondrial genes

Authors: Marisol Gallardo, Alejandro Varela-Romero, José Grijalva-Chon, Enrique Re-Vega

Year: 2019

Abstract

The Longfin Dace, Agosia chrysogaster, is one of the endemic species that inhabits the Gila River basin (Santa Cruz and San Pedro rivers), the Colorado River in the southwestern United States of America (USA) and the Sonoyta and de la Concepcion rivers in the northwest of Sonora. Currently, the population of the Sonoyta River is virtually extirpated from its natural environment, and the remaining population of few individuals is in a refuge in the Centro de Estudios de Desiertos y Océanos (CEDO) in Puerto Peñasco, Sonora. Its current conservation status of threatened with extinction according to NOM-059-2010 also includes the historical distribution of the Mexican Longfin Dace (Agosia n sp), which makes it inoperative. Thus, it is necessary to confirm the specific identity of the population of the Longfin Dace remaining in the Sonoyta River by means of genetic criteria to recognize their specific identity, their genetic variability and phylogenetic affinity with the rest of the populations in their natural distribution. Therefore, through molecular analyzes based on the variation of mitochondrial and nuclear genes, specific identity studies (COXI) will be carried out using the DNA Barcoding technique, genetic variability (ND2) and inbreeding degree of the population in refuge, as well as phylogenetic affinity within the species (Cyt-b). The information generated in this project will serve as a basis for the recovery and management of a species in the Sonoyta River basin.