Publications by authors named "Gonzalo A Collado"
Article Synopsis
- The study examines how historical and contemporary climate changes have influenced the genetic structure of Heleobia ascotanensis, a freshwater snail endemic to the Ascotán Saltpan in South America.
- When analyzing mitochondrial sequences, researchers found diverse haplotypes indicating past population expansions during significant wet events in the Pleistocene, while current population structure appears more fragmented due to geographic barriers.
- Morphometric analyses revealed that more isolated populations exhibit significant morphological differences, suggesting that both genetic and physical traits have diverged due to limited gene flow in contemporary times.
Article Synopsis
- A study identified and analyzed natural pearls produced by a freshwater clam species from southern South America, specifically from Chilean Patagonia lakes.
- The research utilized various scientific techniques like microscopy and spectroscopy to investigate the pearls' composition, which was found to contain calcium carbonate and structural features typical of other mollusks.
- The pearls exhibited a range of shapes (spherical, ellipsoidal, buttoned, and bumpy) and sizes (200 µm to 1.9 mm) and were documented in different colors, appearing in both male and female clams.
Article Synopsis
- The Atacama Desert's evaporitic ecosystems are home to a unique freshwater snail, which is critically endangered and faces threats from climate changes and landscape variations.
- A study found that this snail has distinct genetic groups that correlate with environmental conditions, revealing significant differences in shell shape across geographically isolated populations.
- Given the findings, the snail's conservation status has been updated to Endangered regionally, emphasizing the need for conservation strategies that incorporate its genetic diversity.
Article Synopsis
- The study evaluated the conservation status of eight little-known snail species in Chile, using IUCN and NatureServe guidelines, focusing on their geographic range and other ecological factors.
- The assessment revealed that certain species are critically endangered or endangered due to habitat loss and threats like urbanization and pollution, with some species showing very few occurrences.
- The findings indicate these snails have specific environmental needs, suggesting potential habitats beyond their current ranges, leading to recommendations for conservation actions to protect these vulnerable species.
Knowing the reproductive biology of threatened species is essential for conservation and to establish proper management plans. , a freshwater snail only known from two locations in the Atacama Saltpan, northern Chile, is currently classified as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List and Critically Endangered by the Ministerio del Medio Ambiente of Chile. Based on size-frequency distribution, multivariate analysis of shell measurements, and microdissections, we studied the reproductive strategy, recruitment period, sex ratio and sexual dimorphism in this species.
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- The genus Potamolithus in the southwestern Andes includes species that are hard to differentiate due to their small size and similar shell shapes, with only two species formally recognized so far.
- Research using mitochondrial DNA sequences revealed six distinct haplogroups, indicating that there may be several cryptic species in the region, suggesting a greater biodiversity than previously understood.
- Findings imply that species formations occurred during the Pliocene due to climatic changes, highlighting the importance of conserving the regions with the highest diversity of these species.
Article Synopsis
- The sewage snail Physa acuta, an invasive species from North America, was first found in Chile in 2014, but hasn't been seen in the southern part of the country until recent collections in 2018.
- New samples from Llanquihue Lake matched the characteristics of Physa acuta through detailed morphological and genetic analyses, confirming its presence in the region.
- The study emphasizes the need for immediate actions to prevent further spread of this invasive snail in Llanquihue Lake and surrounding aquatic environments.
Article Synopsis
- Psectrascelis is a diverse genus of darkling beetles found primarily in arid regions of Argentina and Chile, with 82 species documented.
- Taxonomic classification is challenging for some species, particularly Psectrascelis pilosa and Psectrascelis conjugens, which are morphologically similar and have poor descriptions.
- New specimens collected from the southern side of the Huasco River led to the identification of a new species, Psectrascelis ammophila, with genetic analysis indicating a closer relationship to other species rather than the morphologically similar ones.
Article Synopsis
- - The identification of minute freshwater snails in Chile is challenging due to similarities in shell morphology, which is complicated by the presence of invasive species like Potamopyrgus antipodarum sharing the habitat with native genera Heleobia and Potamolithus.
- - Through a combined molecular phylogenetic analysis and examination of reproductive and morphological traits, researchers identified various snail species across 51 locations, revealing 10 sites with the invasive mudsnail, 23 with Heleobia, and 7 with Potamolithus.
- - The study highlights significant findings regarding the spread of the invasive mudsnail, suggesting potential species replacement and extinction of native snails, emphasizing the importance of integrative taxonomy for addressing complex species identification in ongoing invas
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigates the genetic diversity, evolutionary history, and physical differences of a freshwater snail species found only in the Ascotán saltpan of Chile, highlighting its distribution across twelve isolated springs affected by past climate changes.
- - Genetic analysis of 322 specimens revealed three distinct genetic populations with varying levels of historical gene flow and some early stages of physical differentiation due to isolation.
- - The findings indicate that these populations have experienced unique demographic histories influenced by environmental fluctuations, suggesting that both current and past events have played a role in their microevolutionary changes, though more research is needed for detailed predictions on genetic variation.
Article Synopsis
- * Recent species descriptions have overlooked the importance of female genitalia, focusing mainly on male structures, leading to gaps in understanding.
- * A new species, Callyntra femina sp. nov., was identified through analysis of female ovipositor structures and confirmed by molecular studies, showing a close genetic relationship to C. rossi.
Article Synopsis
- Cochliopidae is a diverse family of aquatic snails primarily found in the New World, with a significant presence in various habitats.
- In Chile, these snails were historically classified under the genus Littoridina but recent studies indicate that most should belong to the genus Heleobia due to anatomical and phylogenetic insights.
- This text reports the formal description of a new species of Heleobia discovered in the Carcote saltpan, based on both genetic and physical characteristics, reinforcing previous findings that indicated its uniqueness through DNA analysis.
Article Synopsis
- * Researchers conducted a study in northern Chile that identified previously unknown springsnails from Aguada de Chorrillos as belonging to the Heleobia genus.
- * The paper describes a new species based on anatomical features and supporting molecular data, even though it doesn't focus extensively on morphology.