Phylogenetic relationships and biogeographical patterns in Circum-Mediterranean subfamily Leuciscinae (Teleostei, Cyprinidae) inferred from both mitochondrial and nuclear data

Abstract

BackgroundLeuciscinae is a subfamily belonging to the Cyprinidae fish family that is widely distributed in Circum-Mediterranean region. Many efforts have been carried out to deciphering the evolutionary history of this group. Thus, different biogeographical scenarios have tried to explain the colonization of Europe and Mediterranean area by cyprinids, such as the "north dispersal" or the "Lago Mare dispersal" models. Most recently, Pleistocene glaciations influenced the distribution of leuciscins, especially in North and Central Europe. Weighing up these biogeographical scenarios, this paper constitutes not only the first attempt at deciphering the mitochondrial and nuclear relationships of Mediterranean leuciscins but also a test of biogeographical hypotheses that could have determined the current distribution of Circum-Mediterranean leuciscins.ResultsA total of 4439 characters (mitochondrial + nuclear) from 321 individuals of 176 leuciscine species rendered a well-supported phylogeny, showing fourteen main lineages. Analyses of independent mitochondrial and nuclear markers supported the same main lineages, but basal relationships were not concordant. Moreover, some incongruence was found among independent mitochondrial and nuclear phylogenies. The monophyly of some poorly known genera such as Pseudophoxinus and Petroleuciscus was rejected. Representatives of both genera belong to different evolutionary lineages. Timing of cladogenetic events among the main leuciscine lineages was gained using mitochondrial and all genes data set.ConclusionsAdaptations to a predatory lifestyle or miniaturization have superimposed the morphology of some species. These species have been separated into different genera, which are not supported by a phylogenetic framework. Such is the case of the genera Pseudophoxinus and Petroleuciscus, which real taxonomy is not well known. The diversification of leuciscine lineages has been determined by intense vicariant events following the paleoclimatological and hydrogeological history of Mediterranean region. We propose different colonization models of Mediterranean region during the early Oligocene. Later vicariance events promoted Leuciscinae diversification during Oligocene and Miocene periods. Our data corroborate the presence of leuciscins in North Africa before the Messinian salinity crisis. Indeed, Messinian period appears as a stage of gradually Leuciscinae diversification. The rise of humidity at the beginning of the Pliocene promoted the colonization and posterior isolation of newly established freshwater populations. Finally, Pleistocene glaciations determined the current European distribution of some leuciscine species.

Distribution of Eurasian minnows (Phoxinus: Cypriniformes) in the Western Balkans

“…DNA was stored on À20°C until the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was conducted. Fragments of the cyt-b gene were amplified using primer pair GluF and ThrR (Machordom and Doadrio, 2001), following cycling conditions as described in Perea et al (2010). PCR reactions were performed using HotStarTaq Master Mix Kit (Qiagen), in a total volume of 50 mL comprised of 2.5 U HotStarTaq DNA Polymerase, 1.5 mM MgCl 2 , 200 mM each dNTP, 0.2 mM of each primer and 20 ng of DNA template.…”

Diversification of Circum-Mediterranean Barbels

“…The carbonate rocks with more than 8,000 m that form the Karst Dinarides were deposited for more than 270 Ma and raised during the Alpine orogeny (Velic, 2007), suggesting that present-day karst habitat inhabited by Aulopyge was already present, in the place this oldest barbel lineage is presently found. Such a colonization scenario through southwestern Asia was also hypothesized for Leuciscins (Perea et al, 2010). The split between Barbus and Luciobarbus in the late Oligocene could have been driven by the fragmentation of this landmass (Rögl, 1999).…”

“…Barbels could have used this basin as a means of southwestward dispersion to Iberia, independent from the colonization of northern Africa. Alternatively, they could have used slightly different pathways via the Gomphotherium landbridge connecting Africa and Eurasia (Rögl, 1999), as suggested by Perea et al (2010) to explain vicariance of Peloponessus and Magreb Tropodophoxinellus. Since the distribution areas of Leuciscinae and Cyprininae are similar, as well as inferred dates of groups occupying those regions, it is likely they shared common migratory routes.…”

Adding nuclear rhodopsin data where mitochondrial COI indicates discrepancies – can this marker help to explain conflicts in cyprinids?

“…Apparently, admixture occurred between the two closely related (cf. [60]) genera near Lake Muzarib. While our M. terrasanctae samples from Lake Muzarib bear the Acanthobrama mitochondrial signature, the mitochondrial donors exhibit the nuclear Mirogrex signal.…”