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Towards the conservation of the crucian carp in Europe: Prolific hybridization but no evidence for introgression between native and non-native species.
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  • Daniel Jeffries,
  • Lori Lawson Handley,
  • Dunja Lamatsch,
  • Hakan Olsen,
  • Carl Sayer,
  • Bernd Haenfling
Daniel Jeffries
University of Hull

Corresponding Author:dljeffries86@gmail.com

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Lori Lawson Handley
University of Hull
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Dunja Lamatsch
Austrian Academy of Sciences Institute of Limnology Mondsee
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Hakan Olsen
Södertörn University
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Carl Sayer
University College London
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Bernd Haenfling
University of the Highlands and Islands
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Abstract

Hybridization plays a pivotal role in evolution, influencing local adaptation and speciation. However, it can also reduce biodiversity, which is especially damaging when native and non-native species meet. Hybridization can threaten native species via competition (with vigorous hybrids), reproductive resource wastage, and gene introgression. The latter, in particular, could result in increased fitness in invasive species, decreased fitness of natives, and compromise reintroduction or recovery conservation practices. In this study, we use a combination of RAD sequencing and microsatellites for a range-wide sample set of 1366 fish to evaluate the potential for hybridisation and introgression between native crucian carp (Carassius carassius) and three non-native species (Carassius auratus auratus, Carassius auratus gibelio, and Cyprinus carpio) in European water bodies. We found hybridization between native and non-native species in 82% of populations with non-natives present, highlighting the potential for substantial ecological impacts from hybrids on crucian carp populations. However, despite such high rates of hybridization, we could find no evidence of introgression between these species. The presence of triploid backcrosses in at least two populations points suggests that the lack of introgression among these species is likely due to meiotic dysfunction in hybrids, leading to production of polyploid offspring which are unable to reproduce sexually. This result is promising for crucian reintroduction programs, as it implies limited risk to the genetic integrity of source populations. Future research should investigate the reproductive potential of triploid hybrids and the ecological pressures hybrids impose on C. carassius.
24 Mar 2024Submitted to Molecular Ecology
29 Mar 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
28 Apr 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
01 Jul 20241st Revision Received
25 Jul 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
13 Aug 2024Editorial Decision: Accept