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Thesis Summary:
Placed adhesive eggs on substrate in with large, starved Plecos in confinement and found that the catfish ate 2/3 of the eggs.

ABSTRACT
This thesis compares two independent radiations of catfish in Lake Tanganyika, Claroteine and Synodontis catfishes, to investigate generalities in patterns and processes of diversification between radiations in an ancient “island-like” environment. The introductory chapter places this work in a theoretical context and explores previous research on taxa from Lake Tanganyika. Chapter two provides the first molecular phylogeny of species in the sub-family Claroteinae from Lake Tanganyika, including additional putative species of the genus Phyllonemus. This phylogeny is fossil calibrated to assess when diversification occurred and molecular species delimitation is also performed. Chapter three investigates geographic structure in one species from each radiation, Lophiobagrus cyclurus (from the Claroteine radiation) and Synodontis multipunctatus. Each species was sampled from multiple localities along the length of Lake Tanganyika and their DNA sequenced using restriction site associated (RAD) sequencing to produce large genomic datasets. These datasets allow the comparison of geographic patterns between taxa and, in the Lophiobagrus dataset (which also includes the closely related species L. aquilus), an investigation into the extent of introgression. Chapter four investigates niche partitioning and morphological diversification in both the claroteine and Synodontis radiations. These analyses are conducted using a single dated molecular phylogeny containing both of the radiations allowing explicit comparisons. Eco-morphological divergence is assessed using both morphological measurements thought to be ecologically relevant (e.g., size of the eye) and stable isotope ratios of both nitrogen and carbon as a proxy for niche space. While the first three chapters investigate generalities in the patterns and drivers of diversification by comparing two independent radiations in the same “island-like” environment, Chapter fives takes a different approach by placing one of the Lake Tanganyika radiations, Synodontis, in its broader phylogenetic context. In this chapter morphological diversification is investigated in the largely riverine continental radiation of Synodontis found throughout sub-Saharan Africa.

ABSTRACT
The suckermouth armoured catfishes (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) are a diverse group of predominantly detritivorous fishes inhabiting rivers of South and Central America. Their distinct jaws are specialized for scraping a wide range of substrate. Though it is hypothesized that specialization of loricariid feeding morphology may have played a role in their diversification, little is known about the ecological and evolutionary processes involved. The present study quantifies variation in jaw functional traits and body morphology in a phylogenetic context. Morphological variation was compared to species’ relative position in assemblage isotope space (for both δ13C and δ15N) to test for correlations between diet and feeding morphology. Results show that although jaw functional traits are decoupled from body morphology, both are correlated with δ13C values. Partitioning of terrestrial and aquatic resources can be explained by both jaw functional traits and body morphology, however further partitioning of diet is only attributed to the former.

ABSTRACT
Ichthyoacanthotoxins are toxins released through the pectoral fins (horn) by venomous fish. Order Siluroidea like

CLARIAS GARIEPINUS

,

PANGASIUS HYPOPHTHALMUS

, and

PLOTOSUS CANIUS

generally have pectoral fins as a defense mechanism. The research was conducted from February 2014 through September 2014 to determine anatomical structure of the venom gland and the chemical composition (acanthotoxins) present in the pectoral and dorsal spine. The results of histological analysis showed that the anatomical structure pectoral and dorsal spine consists of pieces of muscle, adipose layer, blood vessels, and there is a venom gland at CLARIAS GARIEPINUS with a long shaft, which is 1612.48 μm. The results showed that the proximate analysis, protein content of PLOTOSUS CANIUS is higher than the protein content of CLARIAS GARIEPINUS and PANGASIUS HYPOPHTHALMUS, while the fat content of CLARIAS GARIEPINUS higher than the fat content of PANGASIUS HYPOPHTHALMUS and PLOTOSUS CANIUS.

Cytogenetic studies involving conventional Giemsa staining, C-banding analysis and silver staining of NORs were performed on nine species belonging to six genera of the family Callichthyidae. The diploid number ranged from 2n = 44 to 2n = 100, the number of chromosomal pairs with NORs ranged from 1 to 4 and constitutive heterochromatin was mainly distributed in the centromeric and/or pericentromeric position of the chromosomes. The DNA content of erythrocytes from six species studied ranged from 1.18 +/- 0.07 to 2.77 +/- 0.22 pg/nucleus. The extensive variability in karyotypes and in nuclear DNA content detected are in accordance with the initial hypothesis that chromosome rearrangements and polyploidy have played a significant role in the evolutionary history of Callichthyidae

Sarah Marburger wrote:ABSTRACT:
The Corydoradinae catfish are a diverse sub-family of neo-tropical catfishes (order Siluriformes) with more than 170 species described to date. One of the most compelling features of this sub-family is the enormous amount of variation in genome size. With species containing between 0.5 pg and 4.8pg of DNA, variation is comparable to that found across the Teleostei as a whole. Previous phylogenetic analysis identified nine distinct lineages within the Corydoradinae, with more basal lineages possessing smaller genomes and with largest genome sizes found in the most derived lineages. To date, nothing is known about the mechanism that drove this genome expansion in the Corydoradinae, though Whole Genome Duplication (WGD) events have been suggested. Here, the incidence of WGD events has been investigated using a Hox gene and a restriction site associated DNA (RAD) sequencing data set. Both data sets identified a major duplication event at the base of the group, with additional duplication events occurring across the family. These duplication events were shown to have led to relaxed purifying selection and increased functional divergence of HoxA13a copies in the Corydoradinae compared with teleosts that have not undergone additional rounds of WGD. The RAD data set confirmed significant genome-wide shifts in duplicate, multi-haplotype regions across the Corydoradinae, and indicates that several species from lineages 6-9 are functionally polyploid, whereas species that underwent earlier WGDs have largely diploidized and are likely paleopolyploids. An increase in paralogous genes was noted, with Gene Ontology suggesting that gene retention in the Corydoradinae mirrors previously described retention in Tetraodon following the fish-specific genome duplication in the Teleostei. Intriguingly, the RAD data also identified a significant expansion of Transposable Elements (TEs), driven by a DNA TE superfamily (Tc1-Mariner). This expansion significantly contributed to the genome size variation, though to a lesser degree than the WGD events identified within this thesis.

Langoni wrote:ABSTRACT
Study comparing the diet of three species of loricariids

Eurycheilichthys limulus

,

Ancistrus brevipinnis

, and

Hemiancistrus punctulatus

in different streams aiming to verify the presence or absence of food overlap between the species and between each species of size. Samples were conducted bimonthly by electrofishing technique from June / 2012 to June / 2013 In streams of high Jacuí basin, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Through the content analysis feeds were identified 26 food items. In general, the three species showed the presence of four items that stood out: Detritus Organic, Bacillariophyta, Sediment, and Plant Material. In addition to these items, other items were representatively consumed differently for each species. The species Eurycheilichthys limulus consumed a high proportion of Simuliidae larvae and Chironomidae larvae, the species A. punctulatus and H. brevipinnis had a similar composition of the diet, Ancistrus brevipinnis presented as the main food items consumed: algae Oedogoniophyceae, larvae Chironomidae, Tecameba, algae Zygnemaphyceae, and Rotifers, while Hemiancistrus punctulatus presented as the main food items consumed algae Oedogoniophyceae, algae Zygnemaphyceae, Tecameba, larvae Chironomidae, and algae Cyanophycea. Species segregation can be observed by Analysis Coordinates Principal (PCoA). The items identified were responsible for this difference. All species and all size classes showed a high value of niche breadth. In general, these species have a low feeding overlap values. Some interactions between the species Eurycheilichthys limulus versus Hemiancistrus punctulatus and between Ancistrus brevipinnis versus Hemiancistrus punctulatus showed the presence of high values of food overlap indicating a competition, but the null model confirmed the niche partitioning between the species and classes size / species. Finally, it was found that there are food segregation between the three species of Siluriformes studied and that the sharing of resources between species is related to differential use of items in different stages of life.

RESUMO
Estudo comparando a dieta de três espécies de loricarídeos Eurycheilichthys limulus, Ancistrus brevipinnis e Hemiancistrus punctulatus, em diferentes riachos, com os objetivos de verificar a ocorrência ou não de sobreposição alimentar entre as espécies e entre as classe de tamanho de cada espécie. As coletas foram realizadas bimestralmente, pela técnica de pesca elétrica, a partir de junho / 2012 a junho / 2013, em riachos da bacia do alto Jacuí, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Por meio da análise do conteúdo alimentar, foram identificados 26 itens alimentares. De modo geral, as três espécies apresentaram quatro itens que se destacaram: Detrito orgânico, Bacillariophyta, Sedimento e Material vegetal. Além disso, a espécie Eurycheilichthys limulus consumiu uma elevada proporção de larvas de Simuliidae e Chironomidae, e as espécies Ancistrus brevipinnis e Hemiancistrus punctulatus apresentaram uma composição da dieta semelhante. Ancistrus brevipinnis apresentou como principais itens alimentares consumidos alga Oedogoniophyceae, larva de Chironomidae, Tecameba, alga Zygnemaphyceae e Rotífera, enquanto Hemiancistrus punctulatus apresentou como principais itens alimentares consumidos alga Oedogoniophyceae, alga Zygnemaphyceae, Tecameba, larva de Chironomidae e alga Cyanophyceae. Foram identificados os itens responsáveis por essa diferença. Todas as espécies e classes de tamanho apresentaram um alto valor de amplitude de nicho e, na maioria das interações, um baixo valor de sobreposição alimentar. Algumas interações entre as espécies Eurycheilichthys limulus versus Hemiancistrus punctulatus e Ancistrus brevipinnis versus H. punctulatus apresentaram valores altos de sobreposição alimentar, o que poderia indicar uma competição, porém o modelo nulo mostrou o compartilhamento de recursos entre as espécies e classes de tamanho/espécies. Por fim, constatou-se que há segregação alimentar entre as três espécies de Siluriformes estudadas e que a partilha de recursos entre as espécies está relacionada à utilização diferencial de itens em diferentes fases da vida.