Evolution of diadromy in fish: insights from a tropical genus (Kuhlia species).

TitreEvolution of diadromy in fish: insights from a tropical genus (Kuhlia species).
Type de publicationJournal Article
Year of Publication2013
AuteursFeutry, P, Castelin, M, Ovenden, JR, Dettai, A, Robinet, T, Cruaud, C, Keith, P
JournalAm Nat
Volume181
Ticket1
Pagination52-63
Date Published2013 Jan
ISSN1537-5323
Mots-clésAnimal Migration, Animals, Biological Evolution, Environment, Molecular Sequence Data, Perciformes, Phylogeny, Reproduction, Sequence Analysis, DNA, Sequence Homology
Résumé

Diadromous species undergo regular migration between fresh and marine waters. This behavior is found in many species, including fish, mollusks, and crustaceans, some of which are commercially valuable species. Several attempts to trace the evolution of this behavior have been made in Salmonidae and Galaxiidae, but ambiguous phylogenies and multiple character state changes prevented unequivocal conclusions. The Kuhliidae family consists of 12 fish species that inhabit tropical islands in the Indo-Pacific region. The species have marine, partially catadromous, or fully catadromous life histories (i.e., they migrate from rivers to the sea to reproduce). The evolution of migratory behavior was traced on a well-resolved phylogeny. Catadromous Kuhlia species were basal, and partially catadromous and marine species formed derived monophyletic groups. This is, to our knowledge, the first time that a clear origin and polarity for the diadromous character has been demonstrated. We propose that the relative lack of resources in tropical, inshore, marine habitats and the ephemeral and isolated nature of freshwater environments of tropical islands, combined with phenotypic plasticity of migratory traits, play key roles in driving the evolution of diadromy in the Kuhliidae and probably in other groups. This work is an important starting point to understand the role of diadromy in speciation and adaptation in unstable habitats.

DOI10.1086/668593
Alternate JournalAm. Nat.
Identifiant (ID) PubMed23234845