Systematics of Guyana and Brazilian Shield Endemic Loricariid Catfishes of the Tribe Ancistrini and Biogeography of the Shield Regions

有646种，吸嘴铠形鲶鱼科是世界上最大的鱼类之一。Loricariids分布在南美洲的大部分地区和中美洲的部分地区，在那里它们作为食藻动物、食腐动物和食木动物（食木动物）扮演着重要的生态角色。在垂蝇科中，最特别的是垂蝇亚科的垂蝇族。在Ancistrini中，主要的分类学和系统问题围绕着一组以巴西和圭亚那盾为中心的属，这两个地区是古代山脉。本研究将对盾区特有群进行研究，以确定盾区存在哪些物种，并对许多未描述的分类群进行描述。一旦这项工作完成，物种之间的关系将由其形态学的各个方面（如骨骼）来确定，以便重建盾状区域的生物地理历史。通过分析具有相似生活史的几个种群，可以详细探索鱼类入侵盾区的方式。将特别强调圭亚那盾。从保护的角度来看，尽管圭亚那盾的大部分地区人口稀少，但一些河流已经受到黄金和钻石开采的巨大影响。现在通过研究圭亚那盾Ancistrini，我们将在该地区受到不可逆转的影响之前更好地了解该地区鱼类的多样性。我最近去圭亚那的波塔罗河（Potaro River）旅行时，发现了几只本应出现的洛里卡蝇，但却没有被捕获，这表明该地区的大规模采矿对它们产生了有害影响。采矿作业可能对钩尾鲶鱼产生特别有害的影响，因为钩尾鲶鱼以生物膜为食，这些生物膜可能含有采矿工业产生的污染物，并且可能因疏浚造成的浑浊度增加而受到伤害。当务之急是尽快完成对保护动物的研究，这样我们就能更好地了解我们需要保护什么，以及如何在它们消失之前保护它们。这项研究还将为南美洲研究较少的地区提供收集方法。许多未被描述的鱼类可能会在这项研究中收集到。此外，收集的所有物种的组织将用于未来的遗传分析，并将允许未来的毒理学分析。

With 646 species, the Loricariidae (suckermouth armored catfishes) is one of the largest families of fishes in the world. Loricariids are distributed throughout much of South America and part of Central America where they fill significant ecological roles as algivores, detritivores, and lignivores (wood-eaters). Particularly speciose among the Loricariidae is the tribe Ancistrini of the subfamily Hypostominae. Amongst the Ancistrini, the major taxonomic and systematic problems revolve around a group of genera with ranges centered upon the Brazilian and Guyana Shields, two areas of ancient mountain ranges. In this study, the shield endemic groups of the Ancistrini will be examined to determine what species exist in the shield region and numerous undescribed taxa will be described. Once this is completed, the relationships of the species will be determined by various aspects of their morphology (such as bones) in order to reconstruct the biogeographical history of the shield region. By analyzing several groups with similar life histories, the way in which the shield regions have been invaded by fishes can be explored in detail. Particular emphasis will be placed on the Guyana Shield.From a conservation standpoint, although much of the Guyana Shield remains sparsely populated, some rivers have been incredibly impacted by gold and diamond mining. By studying the Guyana Shield Ancistrini now, we will have a better understanding of the diversity of fishes in the area before the area becomes irreversibly impacted. On a recent trip I took to the Potaro River in Guyana, several loricariids that should have been present were not captured suggesting that the extensive mining in the area has had a detrimental effect on them. Mining practices may have a particularly detrimental effect on loricariid catfishes because loricariids feed on biofilm that may become laced with pollutants from the mining industry and which may be harmed by the increased turbidity caused by dredging. It is imperative that studies into the shield fauna be accomplished soon so that we can have a better understanding of what we need to conserve and how it needs to be conserved before it is lost. This study will also provide the means to collect in poorly studied areas of South America. Many undescribed species of fishes will likely be collected in this study. In addition, tissues of all species collected will be taken for future genetic analyses and would allow for future toxicological analyses.