Biology subjects

Golubtsov, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Golubtsov, A..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Reconstructing the evolutionary history of freshwater fishes (Nemacheilidae) across Eurasia since early Eocene

Eurasia has undergone substantial tectonic, geological, and climatic changes throughout the Cenozoic era, primarily associated with tectonic plate collisions and a global cooling trend. The evolution of present-day biodiversity unfolded in this dynamic environment, characterised by intricate interactions of abiotic factors. However, comprehensive, large-scale reconstructions illustrating the extent of these influences are lacking. We reconstructed the evolutionary history of the freshwater fish family Nemacheilidae across Eurasia and spanning most of the Cenozoic era on the base of 471 specimens representing 279 species and 37 genera. Molecular phylogeny using 6 genes uncovered six major clades within the family, along with numerous unresolved taxonomic issues. Dating of cladogenetic events and ancestral range estimation traced the origin of Nemacheilidae to Indochina around 48 million years ago. Subsequently, one branch of Nemacheilidae colonised eastern, central, and northern Asia, as well as Europe, while another branch expanded into the Burmese region, the Indian subcontinent, the Near East, and northeast Africa. These expansions were facilitated by tectonic connections, favourable climatic conditions, and orogenic processes. Conversely, aridification emerged as the primary cause of extinction events. Our study marks the first comprehensive reconstruction of the evolution of Eurasian freshwater biodiversity on a continental scale and across deep geological time.

evolutionary biology↗

bioRxiv2021

Adaptive radiation and burst speciation of hillstream cyprinid fish in African river

Adaptive radiation of fishes was long thought to be possible only in lacustrine environments. Recently, several studies have shown that also riverine and stream environments provide the ecological opportunity for adaptive radiation. In this study, we report on a riverine adaptive radiation of six ecomorphs of cyprinid hillstream fishes of the genus Garra in a river located in the Ethiopian Highlands in East Africa. Garra are predominantly highly specialized algae-scrapers with a wide distribution ranging from Southeastern Asia to Western Africa. However, adaptive phenotypic diversification in mouth type, sucking disc morphology, gut length and body shape have been found among these new species in a single Ethiopian river. Moreover, we found two novel phenotypes of Garra ( thick-lipped and predatory) that were not described before in this species-rich genus (>160 species). Mitochondrial and genome-wide data suggest monophyletic, intra-basin evolution of Garra phenotypic diversity with signatures of gene flow from other local populations. Although sympatric ecomorphs are genetically distinct and can be considered to being young species as suggested by genome-wide SNP data, mtDNA was unable to identify any genetic structure suggesting a recent and rapid speciation event. Furthermore, we found evidence for a hybrid origin of the novel thick-lipped phenotype, as being the result of the hybridization of two other sympatrically occurring species. Here we highlight how, driven by ecological opportunity, an ancestral trophically highly specialized lineage is likely to have rapidly adaptively radiated in a riverine environment, and that this radiation was promoted by the evolution of novel feeding strategies.

evolutionary biology↗

bioRxiv2018

Adaptive radiation of barbs of the genus Labeobarbus (Cyprinidae) in the East African river

Large African barbs of the genus Labeobarbus are widely distributed in African freshwaters, and exhibit profound phenotypic plasticity that could be a prerequisite for adaptive radiation. Using morphological, molecular, and stable isotope analyses, we investigated whether an adaptive radiation has occurred in a riverine assemblage of the L. gananensis complex. This complex is composed of six phenotypically distinct sympatric forms inhabiting the Genale River (Ethiopian highlands, East Africa). Of the six forms, five were divergent in their mouth morphology, corresponding to generalized, lipped, scraping (two forms) and large-mouthed phenotypes. Stable isotope analysis revealed differences in 15N and 13C among these forms, representing different foraging strategies (omnivorous, scraping and piscivorous). Phylogenetic analysis of two mtDNA markers confirmed the monophyly of L. gananensis, suggesting an intra-riverine radiation. However, the Genale assemblage appears to have originated through a combination of allopatric and sympatric events. Some of the specialized forms within this drainage originated independently from the local generalized forms in three different river regions within local mini-flocks composed of two to three sympatric forms. Our study shows that adaptive radiation in rivers can be enhanced by a combination of sympatric speciation and temporal geographic isolation, leading to local sympatric speciation followed by migration.

evolutionary biology↗