Diversidad del género Psolus Oken, 1815 (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) en la Provincia Magallánica.
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Date
2025
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Universidad de Concepción
Abstract
La importancia de documentar la biodiversidad es vital para proteger y conservar las especies. Sin embargo, la biodiversidad marina ha sido menos estudiada e investigada debido a su difícil acceso y morfología compleja. Es notable el caso de la familia Psolidae dentro de la clase Holothuroidea, que presenta una morfología única en relación con los demás pepinos de mar, dorsoventralmente aplanados, con escamas en su dorso y una región ventral plana con podios marginales. Dentro de este conjunto, el género Psolus es el más diverso, contando con 58 especies nominales, de las cuales P. patagonicus, P. antarcticus y P. segregatus se encuentran en la Provincia Magallánica. En este contexto, este estudio tiene como objetivo esclarecer las diferencias genéticas y morfológicas de estas tres especies de Psolus recolectadas en la Provincia Magallánica, a través de un enfoque de taxonomía integrativa. Los análisis morfológicos externos e internos permitieron la identificación de dos morfotipos y dos clados bien diferenciados. Además, la delimitación de especies mediante los métodos PTP y GYMC identificó dos unidades taxonómicas operativas (UTO), P. patagonicus y P. segregatus, mientras que el método de validación se basa en la existencia de especies hipotéticas primarias que pueden probarse a posteriori mediante el método de validación BPP que agrupó todas las muestras en una única especie. Estos resultados demuestran la amplia variación fenotípica externa que puede presentar P. patagonicus, y cómo puede ser fácilmente confundida con P. segregatus. Además, ponen en cuestión la presencia de P. antarcticus en la Provincia Magallánica, subrayando la necesidad de futuras investigaciones para aclarar la distribución de esta especie en la región.
The importance of documenting biodiversity is vital to protect and conserve species. However, marine biodiversity has been less studied and researched due to its difficult access and complex morphology. The case of the family Psolidae within the class Holothuroidea is outstanding, which presents a unique morphology in relation to other sea cucumbers, as its species are characterized by dorsoventrally flattened bodies, with scales on their dorsum and a flat ventral region with marginal podia. Within the family, the genus Psolus is the most diverse, with 58 nominal species, of which P. patagonicus, P. antarcticus and P. segregatus are found in the Magellanic Province. In this context, this study aims to clarify the genetic and morphological differences of these three Psolus species collected in the Magellanic Province, through an integrative taxonomy approach. External and internal morphological analyses allowed the identification of two morphotypes and two distinct clades. In addition, species delimitation using the PTP and GYMC methods identified two operational taxonomic units (OTU), P. patagonicus and P. segregatus, while the validation method, Bayesian Phylogenetics and Phylogeography (BPP) grouped all samples into a single species. These results demonstrate the wide external phenotypic variation that Psolus patagonicus can exhibit, and how it can be easily confused with P. segregatus. Furthermore, they call into question the presence of P. antarcticus in the Magellanic Province, highlighting the need for future research to clarify the distribution of this species in the región.
The importance of documenting biodiversity is vital to protect and conserve species. However, marine biodiversity has been less studied and researched due to its difficult access and complex morphology. The case of the family Psolidae within the class Holothuroidea is outstanding, which presents a unique morphology in relation to other sea cucumbers, as its species are characterized by dorsoventrally flattened bodies, with scales on their dorsum and a flat ventral region with marginal podia. Within the family, the genus Psolus is the most diverse, with 58 nominal species, of which P. patagonicus, P. antarcticus and P. segregatus are found in the Magellanic Province. In this context, this study aims to clarify the genetic and morphological differences of these three Psolus species collected in the Magellanic Province, through an integrative taxonomy approach. External and internal morphological analyses allowed the identification of two morphotypes and two distinct clades. In addition, species delimitation using the PTP and GYMC methods identified two operational taxonomic units (OTU), P. patagonicus and P. segregatus, while the validation method, Bayesian Phylogenetics and Phylogeography (BPP) grouped all samples into a single species. These results demonstrate the wide external phenotypic variation that Psolus patagonicus can exhibit, and how it can be easily confused with P. segregatus. Furthermore, they call into question the presence of P. antarcticus in the Magellanic Province, highlighting the need for future research to clarify the distribution of this species in the región.
Description
Tesis presentada para optar al grado de Magíster en Ciencias con mención en Zoología
Keywords
Biodiversidad marina, Fauna marina, Taxonomía zoológica