Mitochondrial DNA variation in the pupfishes of Chihuahua, México

Authors: Evan W. Carson, María de Lourdes Lozano-Vilano, Lilia Vela-Valladares, Iris Banda-Villanueva, Lissette Sepúlveda, Armando J. Contreras Balderas, Mauricio De la Maza-Benignos

Year: 2014 (xlvi)

Abstract

Pupfishes (Cyprinodon) are an iconic and speciose, yet almost uniformly imperiled, group of desert fishes. Over 15% of described pupfish species (8 of ~50) are endemic or native to Chihuahua, México. These include C. eximius, C. julimes, C. macrolepis, C. pachycephalus, and C. salvadori of the Río Conchos basin; C. albivelis of the Río Yaqui basin (primarily); C. fontinalis of the endorheic Desierto de Samalayuca basin; and C. pisteri of the ríos Casas Grandes, Santa Maria, and Del Carmen basins of northern Chihuahua. Little is known about the status or particular biology, ecology, and genetic diversity of these species, though this information is crucial to their conservation, especially given the increasing threats from human activities and projected effects of climate change in the region. Through conservation awards from the Desert Fishes Council, Pronatura Noreste DFC, and the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund (for C. fontinalis only), we assessed mtDNA variation within all eight species and among populations of the three species that maintain multiple populations (C. eximius, C. pisteri, and C. salvadori); a single collection was obtained for C. albivelis, though other populations remain. This information is paired with population status updates obtained during field surveys conducted from 2011 through 2014. Discussion is centered on conservation management of each species.

Resumen

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