Rio de Janeiro and other palaeodrainages evidenced by the genetic structure of an Atlantic Forest catfish

摘要

Aim The disjunct distributions of freshwater organisms along coastal drainages are usually explained by palaeodrainages formed during sea-level retreats that connected currently isolated basins, or by river capture from tectonic adjustments between adjoining watersheds. We evaluate the relative importance of these events on the genetic variation of freshwater fishes inhabiting the Serra do Mar in eastern Brazil, a region with steep mountains and pronounced bays.