Towards the conservation of the crucian carp in Europe: Prolific hybridization but no evidence for introgression between native and non-native taxaShow others and affiliations
2024 (English)In: Molecular Ecology, ISSN 0962-1083, E-ISSN 1365-294XArticle in journal (Refereed) Epub ahead of print
Abstract [en]
Hybridization plays a pivotal role in evolution, influencing local adaptation and speciation. However, it can also reduce biodiversity, which is especially damaging when native and non-native species meet. Hybridization can threaten native species via competition (with vigorous hybrids), reproductive resource wastage and gene introgression. The latter, in particular, could result in increased fitness in invasive species, decreased fitness of natives and compromise reintroduction or recovery conservation practices. In this study, we use a combination of RAD sequencing and microsatellites for a range-wide sample set of 1366 fish to evaluate the potential for hybridization and introgression between native crucian carp (Carassius carassius) and three non-native taxa (Carassius auratus auratus, Carassius auratus gibelio and Cyprinus carpio) in European water bodies. We found hybridization between native and non-native taxa in 82% of populations with non-natives present, highlighting the potential for substantial ecological impacts from hybrids on crucian carp populations. However, despite such high rates of hybridization, we could find no evidence of introgression between these taxa. The presence of triploid backcrosses in at least two populations suggests that the lack of introgression among these taxa is likely due to meiotic dysfunction in hybrids, leading to the production of polyploid offspring which are unable to reproduce sexually. This result is promising for crucian reintroduction programs, as it implies limited risk to the genetic integrity of source populations. Future research should investigate the reproductive potential of triploid hybrids and the ecological pressures hybrids impose on C. carassius.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
John Wiley & Sons, 2024.
Keywords [en]
genomics, invasive species, polyploid, postzygotic isolation, RADseq
National Category
Ecology
Research subject
Environmental Studies
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:sh:diva-54727DOI: 10.1111/mec.17515ISI: 001303052200001Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85202896144OAI: oai:DiVA.org:sh-54727DiVA, id: diva2:1896902
2024-09-112024-09-112024-09-11Bibliographically approved