The catfish family Siluridae contains 107 described species distributed in Asia, but with some distributed in Europe. In this study, karyotypes and other chromosomal characteristics of 15 species from eight genera were examined using conventional and molecular cytogenetic protocols. Our results showed the diploid number (2n) to be highly divergent among species, ranging from 2n = 40 to 92, with the modal frequency comprising 56 to 64 chromosomes. Accordingly, the ratio of uni- and bi-armed chromosomes is also highly variable, thus suggesting extensive chromosomal rearrangements. Only one chromosome pair bearing major rDNA sites occurs in most species, except for Wallago micropogon, Ompok siluroides, and Kryptoterus giminus with two; and Silurichthys phaiosoma with five such pairs. In contrast, chromosomes bearing 5S rDNA sites range from one to as high as nine pairs among the species. Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) experiments evidenced large genomic divergence, even between congeneric species. As a whole, we conclude that karyotype features and chromosomal diversity of the silurid catfishes are unusually extensive, but parallel some other catfish lineages and primary freshwater fish groups, thus making silurids an important model for investigating the evolutionary dynamics of fish chromosomes.

• Klíčová slova
• CGH, FISH, chromosome banding, fish cytotaxonomy, rDNA classes,
• MeSH
• cytogenetické vyšetření MeSH
• genetická variace * MeSH
• genom * MeSH
• genomika * metody   MeSH
• hybridizace in situ fluorescenční MeSH
• karyotyp * MeSH
• pruhování chromozomů MeSH
• repetitivní sekvence nukleových kyselin * MeSH
• srovnávací genomová hybridizace MeSH
• sumci klasifikace   genetika   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Apex predators play a key role in ecosystem stability across environments but their numbers in general are decreasing. By contrast, European catfish (Silurus glanis), the European freshwater apex predator, is on the increase. However, studies concerning apex predators in freshwaters are scarce in comparison to those in terrestrial and marine ecosystems. The present study combines stomach content and stable isotope analyses with diet preferences of catfish to reveal its impact on the ecosystem since stocking. Catfish niche width is extremely wide in comparison to the typical model predator, Northern pike (Esox lucius). Catfish and pike have different individual dietary specialization that results in different functional roles in coupling or compartmentalizing distinct food webs. The role of both species in the ecosystem is irreplaceable due to multiple predator effects. The impact of catfish is apparent across the entire aquatic ecosystem, but herbivores are the most affected ecological group. The key feature of catfish, and probably a common feature of apex predators in general, is utilization of several dietary strategies by individuals within a population: long-term generalism or specialization and also short-term specialization. Catfish, similar to other large-bodied apex predators, have two typical features: enormous generalism and adaptability to new prey sources.

• MeSH
• biomasa MeSH
• dieta * MeSH
• ekosystém * MeSH
• Esocidae fyziologie   MeSH
• fyziologická adaptace * MeSH
• izotopy dusíku MeSH
• izotopy uhlíku MeSH
• jezera MeSH
• potravní řetězec MeSH
• predátorské chování fyziologie   MeSH
• preference v jídle MeSH
• roční období MeSH
• sladká voda * MeSH
• sumci fyziologie   MeSH
• žaludek fyziologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• izotopy dusíku MeSH
• izotopy uhlíku MeSH