COMPARATIVE CYTOGENETIC STUDY AMONG THREE FISH SPECIES: AN ANALYSIS FROM A WATER DIVIDE REGION

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to characterize chromosomal differences between two populations separated in the past for a water divide. Processes of differentiation have been identifi ed in the species studied, being justifi ed by the separation of streams from past for a water divide. Karyotypic data were presented for Astyanax altiparanae, Geophagus brasiliensis and Gymnotus carapo popula- tions of two different river systems of the upper Parana: ribeirão do Pântano (Tietê basin) and ribeirão do Feijão (Mogi Guaçu basin) in the São Carlos region, state of São Paulo. The Astyanax altiparanae, presented a diploid number of 2n=50 chro- mosomes. The Geophagus brasiliensis diploid numbers was 2n=48 chromosomes and Gymnotus carapo a diploid number of 2n=54 chromosomes. An analysis was made of constitutive heterochromatin by C-banding, detection of nucleolar orga- nizer regions and the technique of Hybridization in situ Fluorescent with probes 18S rDNA and 5S rDNA. These results indicate that the species analysed showed differences of karyotype, showing that each population follows its own evolution, as a result of a restrictive process of gene fl ow