RT Journal Article
T1 Genetic Variability of Polypedilum (Diptera: Chironomidae) from Southwest Ecuador
A1 Ballesteros Redondo, María Isabel
A1 Bravo Castro, Mishell
A1 Villamarín Cortez, Santiago
A1 Jijón, Gabriela
A1 Prat, Narcís
A1 Ríos Touma, Blanca
A1 Villamarín, Christian
AB Chironomids show a wide distribution and can occupy several habitats due to their high adaptive capacity in different freshwater environments. The genus Polypedilum is found along a wide elevational and environmental gradient in the neotropics, and its genetic variability could help to elucidate factors determining its distribution and tolerance to the environmental changes of different species or populations. This study examines the genetic variability of Polypedilum in an important biogeographic area that acts as a geographical barrier of biodiversity at the border of the Choco and Tumbes biomes. We identified five Polypedilum morphotypes using classic taxonomic methods. We examined 68 Polypedilum individuals from eight sampling sites in El Oro Province, Ecuador, analyzing the putative molecular species using the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) mitochondrial gene fragment. Then, we calculated molecular diversity indices, Haplotype diversity (Hd), and θs and θπ estimators. Seven Polypedilum OTUs were determined from which a high molecular diversity was registered. A CCA was conducted to understand the population composition in relation to environmental characteristics. Results indicated that dissolved oxygen and temperature are the main environmental factors affecting Polypedilum distribution across elevational gradients and between basins.
PB MPDI
SN 2075-4450
YR 2022
FD 2022
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/71819
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/71819
LA eng
NO Ballesteros, I.; Bravo-Castro, M.; Villamarín-Cortez, S.; Jijón, G.; Prat, N.; Ríos-Touma, B.; Villamarín, C. Genetic Variability of Polypedilum (Diptera: Chironomidae) from Southwest Ecuador. Insects 2022, 13, 382. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13040382
NO Universidad de Las Américas
DS Docta Complutense
RD 12 may 2025