Phylogeographic Pattern of the Striped Snakehead, Channa striata in Sundaland: Ancient River Connectivity, Geographical and Anthropogenic Singnatures

Abstract

A phylogeographic study of an economically important freshwater fish, the striped snakehead, Channa striata in Sundaland was carried out using data from mtDNA ND5 gene target to elucidate genetic patterning. Templates obtained from a total of 280 individuals representing 24 sampling sites revealed 27 putative haplotypes. Three distinct genetic lineages were apparent; 1)northwest Peninsular Malaysia, 2)southern Peninsular, east Peninsular, Sumatra and SW (western Sarawak) and 3) central west Peninsular and Malaysian Borneo (except SW). Genetic structuring between lineages showed a significant signature of natural geographical barriers that have been acting as effective dividers between these populations. However, genetic propinquity between the SW and southern Peninsular and east Peninsular Malaysia populations was taken as evidence of ancient river connectivity between these regions during the Pleistocene epoch. Alternatively, close genetic relationship between central west Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo populations implied anthropogenic activities. Further, haplotype sharing between the east Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra populations revealed extraordinary migration ability of C. striata (>500 km) through ancient connectivity. These results provide interesting insights into the historical and contemporary landscape arrangement in shaping genetic patterns of freshwater species in Sundaland.

Genotyping of microsatellite markers to study genetic structure of the wild striped snakehead Channa striata in Malaysia

“…In contrast, within group 3, high population pairwise genetic distance comparisons between SW and group members (SB, KS, PP and SS) indicate SW's genetic distinction from the rest of the Malaysian Borneo populations in Sarawak and Sabah. This finding is similar to the previous study based on the mtDNA ND5 gene by Tan et al (). Compared with the findings in this study, however, SW was previously included with populations from the east‐south Peninsular (Tan et al , ).…”

“…). Sampling locations were divided into five regions following Tan et al (): (1) north‐west Peninsular, (2) central west Peninsular, (3) southern Peninsular, (4) east Peninsular and (5) Malaysian Borneo. The north‐west Peninsular (1) is the area of the west Peninsular confined by the Titiwangsa Mountain Range in the east and the Bintang Mountain Range in the south.…”

“…Previous reports on the population genetics of C. striata , from the Peninsular Malaysia used the random amplified polymorphic DNA method (Ambak et al , ), from the Mekong River used both mitochondrial DNA and nuclear microsatellite markers (Adamson et al , ) and from Sundaland used mitochondrial DNA markers (Tan et al , ). There is significant genetic differentiation among the surveyed populations and a vast genetic differentiation among fish from various sampling sites (Adamson et al , ; Tan et al , ). High genetic fragmentation is expected for C. striata , being restricted by waterways as the only dispersal channel for this obligate and relatively non‐migratory freshwater fish (Halls et al , ).…”

Diversification and Demography of the Oriental Garden Lizard (Calotes versicolor) on Hainan Island and the Adjacent Mainland

“…Hainan Island was also connected to the mainland during the last glacial maximum (0.015–0.025 Ma; [15]) but has been separated since around 0.0071–0.01 Ma [13]. Although the separation time is recent, investigations of geographical patterns and genetic structure among populations on both sides of the strait can increase our understanding of any ecological processes that have had a phylogeographical influence [16].…”

Genetic structure of the Asian Grass Frog, Fejevarya limnocharis (Amphibia: Anura: Dicroglossidae) of Peninsular Malaysia: a preliminary report

“…The northwest was defined as the region in west Peninsular Malaysia restricted by the Titiwangsa mountain range in the east and Bintang mountain range in the south. Populations to the south of the Bintang mountain range and west of the southernmost tip of the Titiwangsa mountain range were categorized as central west Peninsular, whereas those east of the Titiwangsa mountain range were classified as east Peninsular (Figure 1) (Tan et al 2012). Freshly captured specimens were immediately identified by referring to Berry (1975) and Norhayati et al (2009).…”