dc.contributor.author | Zaccara, Serena | |
dc.contributor.author | Crosa, Giuseppe | |
dc.contributor.author | Vanetti, Isabella | |
dc.contributor.author | Binelli, Giorgio | |
dc.contributor.author | Harper, David M. | |
dc.contributor.author | Mavuti, Kenneth M. | |
dc.contributor.author | Balarin, John D. | |
dc.contributor.author | Britton, J. Robert | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2014-02-20T10:35:35Z | |
dc.date.available | 2014-02-20T10:35:35Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2013 | |
dc.identifier.citation | Serena Zaccara, Giuseppe Crosa, Isabella Vanetti, Giorgio Binelli, David M. Harper, Kenneth M. Mavuti, John D. Balarin and J. Robert Britton (2013). Genetic and morphological analyses indicate high population mixing in the endangered cichlid Alcolapia flock of East Africa. Conservation Genetics, Vol. 14, Number 6 | en_US |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11295/64729 | |
dc.description.abstract | Alcolapia is a minor genus of small-bodied,
polymorphic cichlids inhabiting the lagoons and hot
springs surrounding the soda lakes Natron (largely in
Tanzania) and Magadi (Kenya). Three Alcolapia species
are present at Natron (Alcolapia alcalicus, Alcolapia
ndalalani and Alcolapia latilabris) and one at Magadi
(Alcolapia grahami). All are IUCN Red Listed as either
vulnerable or endangered. We performed analyses of
morphometric and genetic structure on 13 populations of
the Natron Alcolapia flock, and one A. grahami population
of Lake Magadi as an out-group. Morphometric analyses
revealed significant differentiation in the head and mouth
shape of the species at Natron. From a genetic perspective,
among 70 mtDNA control region sequences 17 haplotypes
were found, showing in the minimum spanning network a
star-like pattern around the widespread haplotype 2lat. At
Natron, there was limited genetic differentiation between
the different populations of A. alcalicus and A. latilabris,
despite apparent ecological barriers of extreme alkalinity
that suggested their populations were isolated. Instead,
there appeared to be some population connectivity, with a
rate of 0.5–2.3 migrants per generation suggesting that
natural factors, such as intense rains or transmission by
large piscivorous birds, facilitate population connectivity
and maintain genetic similarity. The outputs of high population
connectivity and one genetic unit at the basin level
(despite morphological divergence) suggest that any
human activities that disrupt the connectivity of the
freshwater resources of the Natron catchment could further
threaten the integrity and current status of these already
threatened fish populations. | en_US |
dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
dc.title | Genetic and morphological analyses indicate high population mixing in the endangered cichlid Alcolapia flock of East Africa | en_US |
dc.type | Article | en_US |