Introgressive hybridization erodes morphological divergence between lentic and lotic habitats in an endangered minnow.

ABSTRACT: Introgressive hybridization may erode phenotypic divergence along environmental gradients, collapsing locally adapted populations into a hybrid swarm. Alternatively, introgression may promote phenotypic divergence by providing variation on which natural selection can act. In freshwater fishes, water flow often selects for divergent morphological traits in lake versus stream habitats. We tested the effects of introgression on lake-stream morphological divergence in the minnow Owens Tui Chub (Siphateles bicolor snyderi), which has been rendered endangered by introgession from the introduced Lahontan Tui Chub (Siphateles bicolor obesa). Using geometric morphometric analysis of 457 individual Tui Chub from thirteen populations, we found that both native and introgressing parent t

SUBMITTER: Baker HK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8495819 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature