Genetics and Molecular Biology (Apr 2024)

Mitochondrion genomes of seven species of the endangered genus Sporophila (Passeriformes: Thraupidae)

  • Amanda Alves de Melo-Ximenes,
  • Leonardo Carlos Jeronimo Corvalán,
  • Larissa Resende Carvalho,
  • Thalita Alves Mangini,
  • Mariane Brom Sobreiro,
  • Lucas Donizetti Vieira,
  • Renata de Oliveira Dias,
  • Carlos de Melo e Silva Neto,
  • Mariana Pires de Campos Telles,
  • Rhewter Nunes

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2023-0172
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 47, no. 1

Abstract

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Abstract We announce the mitochondrial genomes of seven species of the genus Sporophila (S. bouvreuil, S. iberaensis, S. melanogaster, S. minuta, S. nigrorufa, S. pileata, and S. ruficollis) which were validated by comparative genomic and phylogenetic analysis with related species. The mitochondrial genomes of seven passerines of the genus Sporophila were assembled (three complete and four nearly complete genomes) and were validated by reconstructing phylogenetic relations within Thraupidae. The complete mitogenomes ranged from 16,781 bp in S. ruficollis to 16,791 bp in S. minuta. We identified a conserved genome composition within all mitogenomes with 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNAs and two rRNAs. We observed a bias in the nucleotide composition and six mutational hotspots in Sporophila mitogenomes. Our mitogenome-based phylogenetic tree has S. minuta, S. maximiliani and S. nigricollis as sister species of the remaining species in the genus. We present new mitogenome sequences for seven Sporophila species, providing new genomic resources that may be useful for research on the evolution, comparative genetics, and conservation of this threatened group.

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