Genetic differentiation between cave and surface-dwelling populations of <it>Garra barreimiae </it>(Cyprinidae) in Oman
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Phenotypic similarities among cave-dwelling animals displaying troglomorphic characters (e.g. reduced eyes and lack of pigmentation) have induced a long-term discussion about the forces driving convergent evolution. Here we introduce...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2011-06-01
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| Series: | BMC Evolutionary Biology |
| Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/11/172 |
| _version_ | 1798029178990231552 |
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| author | Seemann Robert Haring Elisabeth Kruckenhauser Luise Sattmann Helmut |
| author_facet | Seemann Robert Haring Elisabeth Kruckenhauser Luise Sattmann Helmut |
| author_sort | Seemann Robert |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Phenotypic similarities among cave-dwelling animals displaying troglomorphic characters (e.g. reduced eyes and lack of pigmentation) have induced a long-term discussion about the forces driving convergent evolution. Here we introduce <it>Garra barreimiae </it>Fowler & Steinitz, 1956, as an interesting system to study the evolution of troglomorphic characters. The only hitherto known troglomorphic population of this species lives in Al Hoota Cave (Sultanate of Oman) close to a surface population. As a first approach, we assessed the genetic differentiation between the two morphotypes of <it>G. barreimiae </it>to determine whether gene flow still occurs.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We analysed the mitochondrial control region (CR). In <it>G. barreimiae </it>the CR starts immediately downstream of the <it>tRNA-Thr </it>gene, while the <it>tRNA-Pro </it>gene is missing at this genomic location. Interestingly, a putative <it>tRNA-Pro </it>sequence is found within the CR. The phylogenetic analyses of the CR sequences yielded a tree divided into three clades: Clade 1 has a high genetic distance to the other clades and contains the individuals of three populations which are separated by a watershed from all the others. Clade 2 comprises the individuals from Wadi Bani Khalid, the geographically most remote population. Clade 3 comprises all other populations investigated including that of Al Hoota Cave. The latter forms a haplogroup which also includes individuals from the adjacent surface population.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our data indicates that the troglomorphic cave population is of quite recent origin supporting the hypothesis that selection drives the fast evolution of troglomorphic traits. In this context pleiotropic effects might play an important role as it has been shown for <it>Astyanax</it>. There seems to be some gene flow from the cave population into the adjacent surface populations. One blind individual, found at a surface locality geographically distinct from Al Hoota Cave, is genetically differentiated from the other blind specimens indicating the probable existence of another cave population of <it>G. barreimiae</it>. The phylogeographic analyses show that while some of the surface populations are either still in contact or have been until recently, the population Wadi Bani Khalid is genetically separated. One group consisting of three populations is genetically highly differentiated questioning the conspecifity with <it>G</it>. <it>barreimiae</it>.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T19:20:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-977e4d508d1f447cb5cc648b9209ff67 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2148 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T19:20:09Z |
| publishDate | 2011-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Evolutionary Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-977e4d508d1f447cb5cc648b9209ff672022-12-22T04:07:19ZengBMCBMC Evolutionary Biology1471-21482011-06-0111117210.1186/1471-2148-11-172Genetic differentiation between cave and surface-dwelling populations of <it>Garra barreimiae </it>(Cyprinidae) in OmanSeemann RobertHaring ElisabethKruckenhauser LuiseSattmann Helmut<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Phenotypic similarities among cave-dwelling animals displaying troglomorphic characters (e.g. reduced eyes and lack of pigmentation) have induced a long-term discussion about the forces driving convergent evolution. Here we introduce <it>Garra barreimiae </it>Fowler & Steinitz, 1956, as an interesting system to study the evolution of troglomorphic characters. The only hitherto known troglomorphic population of this species lives in Al Hoota Cave (Sultanate of Oman) close to a surface population. As a first approach, we assessed the genetic differentiation between the two morphotypes of <it>G. barreimiae </it>to determine whether gene flow still occurs.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We analysed the mitochondrial control region (CR). In <it>G. barreimiae </it>the CR starts immediately downstream of the <it>tRNA-Thr </it>gene, while the <it>tRNA-Pro </it>gene is missing at this genomic location. Interestingly, a putative <it>tRNA-Pro </it>sequence is found within the CR. The phylogenetic analyses of the CR sequences yielded a tree divided into three clades: Clade 1 has a high genetic distance to the other clades and contains the individuals of three populations which are separated by a watershed from all the others. Clade 2 comprises the individuals from Wadi Bani Khalid, the geographically most remote population. Clade 3 comprises all other populations investigated including that of Al Hoota Cave. The latter forms a haplogroup which also includes individuals from the adjacent surface population.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our data indicates that the troglomorphic cave population is of quite recent origin supporting the hypothesis that selection drives the fast evolution of troglomorphic traits. In this context pleiotropic effects might play an important role as it has been shown for <it>Astyanax</it>. There seems to be some gene flow from the cave population into the adjacent surface populations. One blind individual, found at a surface locality geographically distinct from Al Hoota Cave, is genetically differentiated from the other blind specimens indicating the probable existence of another cave population of <it>G. barreimiae</it>. The phylogeographic analyses show that while some of the surface populations are either still in contact or have been until recently, the population Wadi Bani Khalid is genetically separated. One group consisting of three populations is genetically highly differentiated questioning the conspecifity with <it>G</it>. <it>barreimiae</it>.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/11/172 |
| spellingShingle | Seemann Robert Haring Elisabeth Kruckenhauser Luise Sattmann Helmut Genetic differentiation between cave and surface-dwelling populations of <it>Garra barreimiae </it>(Cyprinidae) in Oman BMC Evolutionary Biology |
| title | Genetic differentiation between cave and surface-dwelling populations of <it>Garra barreimiae </it>(Cyprinidae) in Oman |
| title_full | Genetic differentiation between cave and surface-dwelling populations of <it>Garra barreimiae </it>(Cyprinidae) in Oman |
| title_fullStr | Genetic differentiation between cave and surface-dwelling populations of <it>Garra barreimiae </it>(Cyprinidae) in Oman |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genetic differentiation between cave and surface-dwelling populations of <it>Garra barreimiae </it>(Cyprinidae) in Oman |
| title_short | Genetic differentiation between cave and surface-dwelling populations of <it>Garra barreimiae </it>(Cyprinidae) in Oman |
| title_sort | genetic differentiation between cave and surface dwelling populations of it garra barreimiae it cyprinidae in oman |
| url | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/11/172 |
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