Genomic insights on conservation priorities for North Sea houting and European lake whitefish (Coregonus spp.).

ABSTRACT: Population genomics analysis holds great potential for informing conservation of endangered populations. We focused on a controversial case of European whitefish (Coregonus spp.) populations. The endangered North Sea houting is the only coregonid fish that tolerates oceanic salinities and was previously considered a species (C. oxyrhinchus) distinct from European lake whitefish (C. lavaretus). However, no firm evidence for genetic-based salinity adaptation has been available. Also, studies based on microsatellite and mitogenome data suggested surprisingly recent divergence (c. 2500 years bp) between houting and lake whitefish. These data types furthermore have provided no evidence for possible inbreeding. Finally, a controversial taxonomic revision recently classified all whitefish in the

SUBMITTER: Tengstedt ANB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12684370 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature