Publications by authors named "Damir Hernandez"
Recently, a barcoding study and a molecular phylogenetic analysis of the Cuban species of the cave-fish genus Poey, 1858 revealed the existence of different evolutionary lineages that were previously unknown or passed unnoticed by morphological scrutiny (i.e., cryptic candidate species).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFConsistent with the limited dispersal capacity of most troglobitic animals, almost all Lucifuga cavefish species have very narrow geographic distribution in Cuba. However, one species, L. dentata, has a wide but disjointed distribution over 300 km in the west of the island.
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- The study investigates the taxonomic relationship between two species of the genus Rivulus endemic to Cuba, R. cylindraceus and R. insulaepinorum, suggesting they may actually be the same species based on various molecular and morphological analyses.
- Data indicates strong evolutionary divergence between these two lineages and identifies a new species in northwestern Cuba, highlighting the complexity of freshwater fish diversity in the region.
- The findings emphasize the need for more comprehensive research on Cuban freshwater fish to better understand their evolution and distribution in relation to geological events like sea level changes.
Article Synopsis
- Underground environments host a diverse range of species, with extreme conditions and limited movement contributing to the evolution of underground organisms like the stygobiotic fish genus Lucifuga in Cuban and Bahamian caves.
- The study involved molecular phylogenetic analysis revealing three major clades in Lucifuga, alongside potential cryptic species and a taxonomical relationship between certain species.
- Phylogeographic analysis of Lucifuga dentata showed distinct geographical patterns in genetic variation, driven by historical processes of dispersal, population growth, fragmentation, and limited gene flow, influencing species diversification.
Population genetic studies carried out on penaeid shrimps have disclosed different patterns of population subdivision, revealing new aspects of shrimp biology as well as the effects of historical contingency molding those patterns. However, the stability of observed allele frequencies over time still remains untested. The objective of this article is to show the analysis of the temporal variation of allozymes in a shrimp species inhabiting Cuba which proves that the genetic structure of this species could significantly change in time.
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