Investigating gene flow between the blind cavefish Garra barreimiae and its conspecific surface populations.

ABSTRACT: Cave-dwelling taxa often share the same phenotypic modifications like absence of eyes and pigmentation. These "troglomorphic characters" are expressed in the populations of Garra barreimiae from the Al Hoota Cave and nearby Hoti Pit in Northern Oman. Surface morphotypes of this cyprinid species are common throughout the distribution area. Very rarely individuals with intermediate phenotypes can be found. In the present study, potential gene flow between cave and surface populations was tested and population structure within five sampling sites was assessed. Overall, 213 individuals were genotyped at 18 microsatellite loci. We found that the cave populations have lower genetic diversity and are clearly isolated from the surface populations, which seem to be sporadically in contact with each

SUBMITTER: Kirchner S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5506003 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature