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Extraordinary chromosome diversity in the southernmost populations of the montane grass mouse Akodon montensis (Cricetidae, Sigmodontinae)

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Abstract

Akodon montensis is abundant and widely distributed in the Atlantic Forest, which southern limits extends to northern Argentina, principally in the Misiones province. Chromosomal data from more centrally distributed populations in Brazil showed significant chromosome diversity; however, data from its southern boundaries are scarce. To explore the chromosomal diversity of this species, we conducted conventional chromosome staining, C-banding, CMA3/DAPI fluorochromes, and in situ hybridization with a telomere probe in samples from Argentina. Most specimens had the standard karyotype 2n = 24, although numerical variations due to aneuploidies and supernumerary (B) chromosomes were detected. We registered novel structural polymorphisms for pair 11 and sex chromosomes, and a rearrangement involving pairs 2 and 4, possibly due to a spontaneous chromosomal mutation. Most A. montensis females are homogametic with XX sex chromosomes, although XY and X0 females were observed. Most individuals carrying B chromosomes had 1 B and, to a lesser extent, 2 and 3 B. The chromosomal variability detected at the southern limit of A. montensis distribution is high and similar to other geographically distant populations, despite the fact that it could be a region recently colonized. Some of these variations are unique and could have originated independently in southern populations, while others are shared throughout the species distribution and may have originated earlier.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the anonymous referees for the substantial contribution to this work. The authors thank to the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET).

Funding

This research has been partially funded by Agencia Nacional de Promoción de la Investigación, el Desarrollo Tecnológico y la Innovación (ANPCyT), Préstamo BID 2016 PICT N° 537.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio de Genética Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales, IBS, UNaM – CONICET, Félix de Azara 1552, 3300, Misiones, CP, Argentina

    Carolina A. Labaroni, Juan M. Ferro, Leandro Buschiazzo, Romina De Cena, Marcelo Kleiniving, Gabriela García & Cecilia Lanzone

  2. Laboratorio de Citogenética y Mutagénesis, IMBICE (CONICET La Plata-CICPBA-UNLP), Calle 526 y Camino General Belgrano, La Plata CP, 1900, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Eugenio Calcena & Alejandro Bolzan

  3. Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Roque Sáenz Peña 352, Bernal, Quilmes CP, 1878, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Eugenio Calcena

  4. Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Avenida 122 y 60, La Plata CP, 1900, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Alejandro Bolzan

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  1. Carolina A. Labaroni
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  2. Juan M. Ferro
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  3. Leandro Buschiazzo
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  7. Eugenio Calcena
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  9. Cecilia Lanzone
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Correspondence to Carolina A. Labaroni.

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Labaroni, C.A., Ferro, J.M., Buschiazzo, L. et al. Extraordinary chromosome diversity in the southernmost populations of the montane grass mouse Akodon montensis (Cricetidae, Sigmodontinae). Mamm Res 68, 355–365 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13364-023-00687-1

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