Genetic Diversity of Gila eremica lineage populations in Sonora, Mexico

Authors: Carlos Ballesteros-Córdova, Alejandro Varela-Romero, Gorgonio Ruiz-Campos, Lloyd Findley, José Grijalva-Chón, Luis Gutíerrez-Millán

Year: 2024

Abstract

The Desert chub Gila eremica DeMarais, 1991, is endemic to, to Sonora and Mátape river basins in Sonora, Mexico. Two new populations were discovered in the Arroyo El Tigre sub-basin, Matape River, and were considered independent evolutionarily significant units, isolated from G. eremica populations, and henceforth named as Gila cf eremica. Although the IUCN classifies G. eremica as near threatened, legal governmental protection and conservation status studies still missing, mainly on its genetic diversity. In this study, we analyzed the genetic diversity of the mitochondrial gene ND2 to determine the putattive genetic structure within both lineage and the possible origin of G. cf. eremica. The results showed that the four populations from the Sonora River basin exhibit small to moderate degree of genetic differentiation, with a high number of migrants per generation. In contrast, population from the Mátape River sub-basin displays a high degree of genetic differentiation compared to the Sonora River populations, along with very low or no migration exchange between the two basins. Furthermore, the results indicate significant genetic differentiation between G. eremica populations and those from the Arroyo El Tigre sub-basin, supporting the notion that G. cf. eremica should be managed as an evolutionarily significant and independent unit from the nominal species.