Phylogeographic structure, cryptic speciation and demographic history of the sharpbelly (Hemiculter leucisculus), a freshwater habitat generalist from southern China.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Species with broad distributions frequently divide into multiple genetic forms and may therefore be viewed as "cryptic species". Here, we used the mitochondrial cytochrome b (Cytb) and 12 nuclear DNA loci to investigate phylogeographic structures of the sharpbelly (Hemiculter leucisculus) in rivers in southern China and explored how the geological and climatic factors have shaped the genetic diversity and evolutionary history of this species.

Results

Our mitochondrial phylogenetic analysis identified three major lineages (lineages A, B, and C). Lineages B and C showed a relatively narrower geographic distribution, whereas lineage A was widely distributed in numerous drainages. Divergence dates suggested that H. leucisculus populations diverged between 1.61-2.38 Ma

SUBMITTER: Chen W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5596851 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature