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Sotalia dolphins in their potential sympatry zone: searching for hybrids in the Amazonian estuary

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 July 2018

Teresa E.C. Dos Santos ,
Vera M.F. Da Silva ,
Nívia A.S. Do Carmo ,
Cristiano Lazoski  and
Haydée A. Cunha
Teresa E.C. Dos Santos
Affiliation:
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Biologia Evolutiva, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Interbloco B/C do Centro de Ciências da Saúde. Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro State, Cep 21941-590, Brazil
Vera M.F. Da Silva
Affiliation:
Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Av. André Araújo, 2936. Petrópolis, Manaus, Amazonas State, Cep 69011-970, Brazil
Nívia A.S. Do Carmo
Affiliation:
Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Av. André Araújo, 2936. Petrópolis, Manaus, Amazonas State, Cep 69011-970, Brazil
Cristiano Lazoski
Affiliation:
Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Prédio do CCS, Bl. A. Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro State, Cep 21941-590, Brazil
Haydée A. Cunha*
Affiliation:
Laboratório de Biodiversidade Molecular, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Prédio do CCS, Bl. A, Sl. A2-98. Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro State, Cep 21941-590, Brazil Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores, Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, R. São Francisco Xavier, 524. 4 andar, Bl. E, Sl. 4002-E. Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro State, Cep 20550-013, Brazil
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Haydée A. Cunha, Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores, Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, R. São Francisco Xavier, 524. 4 andar, Bl. E, Sl. 4002-E. Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro State, Cep 20550-013, Brazil email: [email protected]
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Abstract

The two Sotalia species (the marine S. guianensis and the freshwater S. fluviatilis) have only recently been recognized, and both face several conservation challenges. We investigated the existence of hybridization between the two species in their possible area of sympatry in the Amazon Estuary, in northern Brazil. A fast and cheap PCR-RFLP diagnostic method using nuclear DNA was developed to discriminate between the two species, while allowing the detection of hybrids. All samples that could be identified (N = 51) were identified as S. guianensis, and no hybrids were detected. Our results, coupled with previous mitochondrial data, suggest that S. fluviatilis is not present in the Amazon delta. Thus, sympatry with S. guianensis, if it does occur, may be restricted to upstream areas of the Amazon River.

Keywords

Guiana dolphinforensicsintrogressiontucuxi
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 98 , Special Issue 5: Marine Mammals , August 2018 , pp. 1211 - 1215
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2018 

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