TY - JOUR
T1 - Population genetics of a widely distributed small freshwater fish with varying conservation concerns: the southern purple-spotted gudgeon, Mogurnda adspersa.
AU - Sasaki, Minami
AU - Hammer, Michael
AU - UNMACK, Peter
AU - Adams, Mark
AU - Beheregaray, Luciano
PY - 2016
Y1 - 2016
N2 - Genetic variation plays a pivotal role in species
viability and the maintenance of population genetic variation
is a main focus of conservation biology. Threatened
species often show reduced genetic variation compared to
non-threatened species, and this is considered indicative of
lowered evolutionary potential, compromised reproductive
fitness, and elevated extinction risk. The southern purplespotted
gudgeon, Mogurnda adspersa, is a small freshwater
fish with poor dispersal potential that was once common
throughout the Murray¿Darling Basin (MDB) and along
the central east coast of Australia. Its numbers and distribution
have shrunk dramatically in the MDB due to flow
alteration, degradation of habitat, decreasing water quality,
and introduction of alien species. We used microsatellite
DNA markers to assess population structure and genetic
variation at both large (i.e. across basin) and fine (i.e.
within river catchments) spatial scales using a substantial
sampling effort across the species range (n = 579
individuals; 35 localities). The results consistently indicated
very low levels of genetic variation throughout,
including along the east coast where the species is relatively
common. At the broader scale, three highly differentiated
groups of populations were found, concordant with
previously reported genealogical distinctiveness. Hence we
propose each group as a distinct Evolutionarily Significant
Unit. We also inferred a minimum of 12 management units
in M. adspersa, with no appreciable gene flow between
them. Our study discloses findings relevant for both longand
short-term management, as it informs on the geographic
context in which conservation priorities should be
defined and specifies biological units for population monitoring
and translocations.
AB - Genetic variation plays a pivotal role in species
viability and the maintenance of population genetic variation
is a main focus of conservation biology. Threatened
species often show reduced genetic variation compared to
non-threatened species, and this is considered indicative of
lowered evolutionary potential, compromised reproductive
fitness, and elevated extinction risk. The southern purplespotted
gudgeon, Mogurnda adspersa, is a small freshwater
fish with poor dispersal potential that was once common
throughout the Murray¿Darling Basin (MDB) and along
the central east coast of Australia. Its numbers and distribution
have shrunk dramatically in the MDB due to flow
alteration, degradation of habitat, decreasing water quality,
and introduction of alien species. We used microsatellite
DNA markers to assess population structure and genetic
variation at both large (i.e. across basin) and fine (i.e.
within river catchments) spatial scales using a substantial
sampling effort across the species range (n = 579
individuals; 35 localities). The results consistently indicated
very low levels of genetic variation throughout,
including along the east coast where the species is relatively
common. At the broader scale, three highly differentiated
groups of populations were found, concordant with
previously reported genealogical distinctiveness. Hence we
propose each group as a distinct Evolutionarily Significant
Unit. We also inferred a minimum of 12 management units
in M. adspersa, with no appreciable gene flow between
them. Our study discloses findings relevant for both longand
short-term management, as it informs on the geographic
context in which conservation priorities should be
defined and specifies biological units for population monitoring
and translocations.
KW - Conservation genetics Freshwater fish
KW - Endangered biodiversity Ecological genetics
KW - Phylogeography Population connectivity
U2 - 10.1007/s10592-016-0829-2
DO - 10.1007/s10592-016-0829-2
M3 - Article
VL - 17
SP - 875
EP - 889
JO - Conservation Genetics
JF - Conservation Genetics
SN - 1566-0621
IS - 4
ER -