Genetic evidence for different migration routes of freshwater fish into Norway revealed by analysis of current perch (Perca fluviatilis) populations in Scandinavia

Abstract

To elucidate the colonization of freshwater fish into Norway following the last deglaciation of Europe 10,000 years ago, we have performed a survey using mitochondrial DNA variation (20 populations) and multilocus DNA fingerprinting (14 populations) of the widely distributed perch (Perca fluviatilis) from the Scandinavian peninsula and the Baltic Sea. Sequence analysis of a 378 bp segment of the perch mitochondrial control region (D-loop) revealed 12 different haplotypes. A nested clade analysis was performed with the aim of separating population structure and population history. This analysis revealed strong geographical structuring of the Scandinavian perch populations. In addition, the level of genetic diversity was shown to differ considerably among the various populations as measured by the bandsharing values (S-values) obtained from multilocus DNA fingerprinting, with intrapopulation S-values ranging from 0.19 in Sweden to 0.84 in the central part of Norway. Analysis of the intrapopulation S-values, with S-value as a function of lake surface area and region, showed that these differences were significant. The mitochondrial and DNA fingerprinting data both suggest that the perch colonized Norway via two routes: one from the south following the retreating glacier, and the other through Swedish river systems from the Baltic Sea area. Perch utilizing the southern route colonized the area surrounding Oslofjord and the lakes which shortly after deglaciation were close to the sea. Fish migrating from the Baltic Sea seem to have reached no further than the east side of Oslofjord, where they presumably mixed with perch which had entered via the southern route. It seems likely that the migration events leading to the current distribution of perch also apply to other species of freshwater fish showing a similar distribution pattern.

Population genetic diversity and phylogeographic divergence patterns of the yellow perch (Perca flavescens)

“…Overall mtDNA genetic diversity of yellow perch is lower than that of walleye Sander vitreus , and roughly equivalent to that determined for Eurasian perch Perca fluviatilis (Refseth et al, 1998;Nesbo et al, , 1999. Similarly, P. fluviatilis had relatively low allozymic genetic diversity (Gyllensten et al, 1985;Bodaly et al, 1989).…”

Distribution patterns of European lacustrine gastropods: a result of environmental factors and deglaciation history

“…Thus, species composition in LG1 is random but spatially autocorrelated due to dispersal limitation of species (see Tuomisto & Ruokolainen, 2006 and references therein). Although lakes in LG1 are characterized by widespread species, differences in the mode of dispersal, e.g., active versus passive (see Kappes & Haase, 2012), in combination with different post-glacial recolonization routes (e.g., Refseth et al, 1998;Tollefsrud et al, 2008), time from deglaciation (see Andrén et al, 2011) and the presence of geographical barriers may explain our findings. The partial Mantel tests showed that environmental distances are more important than geographical distances in LG2.…”

Circumpolar phylogeography of the northern pike (Esox lucius) and its relationship to the Amur pike (E. reichertii)

“…However, the precise location of this refugium for northern pike is uncertain [19,25]. Notably, Scandinavia has probably been colonization from the central European refugium as well as from an eastern refugium by the circumpolar haplogroup, as also implied for the Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis) recolonization of Scandinavia [31,36]. Thus, northern Europe has most likely been recolonized from at least two different northern pike refugia and not one as earlier suggested [16,24].…”