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Project

Siluriformes of the Albertian Rift and their monogeneans: systematics, phylogeny and biogeography. (R-12933)

Catfishes (Siluriformes) are mostly freshwater fishes grouped into 'continent specific' clades. Exceptions are Clariidae and Bagridae, which, although found in Africa, are of Asian origin. Bagrids and clariids often have large distributions and are of economic importance. I will study their biogeography by using monogenean parasites as extra markers. Given their Asian origin, their parasite fauna is expected to be separated from those of other African catfishes. I will focus on species from the East African Rift, a freshwater biodiversity hotspot. This region has a complicated biogeography that reflects its turbulent past. It contains deep, stable rift lakes that served as refugia during dry periods. These also acted as cradles of diversification for freshwater fishes, and their parasites. I will combine morphological and molecular approaches on monogeneans from Bagridae and Clariidae and compare patterns of diversification between parasites and hosts and across host-parasite systems. This will allow me to reconstruct the phylogeography of the hosts. This will increase our understanding of Africa's freshwater systems.
Date:1 Nov 2022 →  Today
Keywords:Biogeography, Biologie
Disciplines:Animal ecology, Animal systematics and taxonomy
Project type:Collaboration project