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Speciation of endemic Lake Tana barbs (Cyprinidae, Ethiopia) driven by trophic resource partitioning; a molecular and ecomorphological approach

Speciation of endemic Lake Tana barbs (Cyprinidae, Ethiopia) driven by trophic resource... A unique species flock of large barbs (Barbus spp.) from Lake Tana is presented, from the level of fish stocks to molecules. Evidence is given for the species status of 14 morphotypes of large barbs. They distinctly differ in: (1) head and body morphometrics, (2) food preferences, (3) distribution patterns, (4) maximal body size, (5) spawning area and period, and (6) molecular genetic characters. Most types show early morphological divergence at small size. Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) genes, encoding cell membrane proteins involved in defence against pathogens, were found to be diagnostic for the species' genetic identity. A strong selective pressure on particular amino acid positions in the MHC protein sequence most probably arose in response to different pathogen loads from the newly invaded ecological niches after formation of Lake Tana, ca. two million years ago. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Aquatic Ecology Springer Journals

Speciation of endemic Lake Tana barbs (Cyprinidae, Ethiopia) driven by trophic resource partitioning; a molecular and ecomorphological approach

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References (55)

Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright © 1998 by Kluwer Academic Publishers
Subject
Life Sciences; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Ecosystems
ISSN
1386-2588
eISSN
1573-5125
DOI
10.1023/A:1009920522235
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

A unique species flock of large barbs (Barbus spp.) from Lake Tana is presented, from the level of fish stocks to molecules. Evidence is given for the species status of 14 morphotypes of large barbs. They distinctly differ in: (1) head and body morphometrics, (2) food preferences, (3) distribution patterns, (4) maximal body size, (5) spawning area and period, and (6) molecular genetic characters. Most types show early morphological divergence at small size. Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) genes, encoding cell membrane proteins involved in defence against pathogens, were found to be diagnostic for the species' genetic identity. A strong selective pressure on particular amino acid positions in the MHC protein sequence most probably arose in response to different pathogen loads from the newly invaded ecological niches after formation of Lake Tana, ca. two million years ago.

Journal

Aquatic EcologySpringer Journals

Published: Sep 30, 2004

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