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Expansion and contraction of lake basin shape the genetic structure of Sinocyclocheilus (Osteichthyes: Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) populations in central Yunnan, China
  • +4
  • xingjin che,
  • Yuanwei Zhang,
  • Anli Wu,
  • Xiaofu Pan,
  • Mo Wang,
  • Junxing Yang,
  • Xiaoai Wang
xingjin che
Kunming Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Yuanwei Zhang
Kunming Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Anli Wu
Kunming Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Xiaofu Pan
Kunming Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Mo Wang
Southwest Forestry University
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Junxing Yang
Kunming Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Xiaoai Wang
Kunming Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences

Corresponding Author:wangxiaoai@mail.kiz.ac.cn

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Abstract

Geological events and historical environmental change can strongly affect the genetic structures and differentiation of fish populations. Although the central region of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau contains the highest concentration of rift-subsidence lakes in China, the effects of key geological events on the distributions and genetic structures of the regional fauna remain poorly understood. Fishes of the genus Sinocyclocheilus are endemic to the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, where they are found in karst landforms. As a result of environmental pollution and other human activities, Sinocyclocheilus populations have decreased sharply, and the genus is currently listed under Class II of the nationally protected animals classification in China. Examining the phylogeographic patterns of Sinocyclocheilus fishes can be useful for elucidating the spatio-temporal dynamics of their population size, dispersal history and extent of geographical isolation, thereby providing a theoretical basis for their protection. Here, we used Restriction Site Associated DNA Sequencing (RAD-seq) to investigate the evolution of Sinocyclocheilus fishes. Our analysis supports the endemicity of Sinocyclocheilus, and identifies the formation of Dianchi Lake and Fuxian Lake as key geological events shaping Sinocyclocheilus population structure. We estimate that the most recent common ancestor (MRCA) of Sinocyclocheilus fish occurred in the Central Yunnan Basin 3.75~3.11 Ma. It is the first time to prove that the altitude change has a great influence on the genetic variation among the populations of Sinocyclocheilus. We discuss the implications of our results for the protection and management of Sinocyclocheilus grahami and other cave fishes.
26 Jul 2023Submitted to Ecology and Evolution
27 Jul 2023Submission Checks Completed
27 Jul 2023Assigned to Editor
02 Aug 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
16 Aug 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
23 Aug 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
10 Oct 20231st Revision Received
10 Oct 2023Submission Checks Completed
10 Oct 2023Assigned to Editor
10 Oct 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending