The highland fish fauna of eastern North America consists of Appalachian and Ozark centers of endemism separated by the intervening Glacial Till Plains. Clades within these areas are more closely related phylogenetically to each other than to clades occurring in the intervening formerly glaciated region, suggesting that the Pleistocene glaciations fragmented a widespread highland region and its associated fauna. Alternatively, it is possible that these faunal assemblages predate the glaciations or that recent dispersals may have been more important than vicariance in determining faunal compositions. We examined the relationships among mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotypes within five clades of highland fishes, each with a distribution suggestive of a Pleistocene vicariance event. Darters of the subgenera Litocara and Odontopholis have distributions and mtDNA relationships that are consistent with the Pleistocene integration and burial of the Teays-Mahomet valley, a major drainage of the early Pleistocene. The distribution and mtDNA relationships among subspecies of Erimystax dissimilis are not consistent with Pleistocene vicariance, but relationships among Appalachian haplotypes are consistent with the late Pleistocene integration of the modern Ohio River system. Both Cottus carolinae and the Fundulus catenatus species group have representatives in the Mobile basin consistent with pre-Pleistocene divergences. Three haplotype clusters were found in C. carolinae, corresponding to the Appalachian, Ozark, and upper Kanawha River populations. However, Appalachian and Ozark F. catenatus populations are paraphyletic with respect to each other. This, coupled with a relatively low degree of sequence divergence, suggests that no long-term barriers to gene flow exist for C. carolinae and F. catenatus. These three distinct phylogeographic patterns indicate that Pleistocene vicariance is not the only explanation for the Appalachian-Ozark distribution of highland fish communities.

Analysis of population genetic relationships reveals the signatures of current processes such as spawning behaviour and migration, as well as those of historical events including vicariance and climate change. This study examines these signatures through testing broad- to fine-scale genetic patterns among smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu spawning populations across their native Great Lakes range and outgroup areas, with fine-scale concentration in Lake Erie. Our primary hypotheses include whether genetic patterns result from behavioural and/or geographical isolation, specifically: (i) Are spawning groups in interconnected waterways genetically separable? (ii) What is the degree of isolation across and among lakes, basins, and tributaries? (iii) Do genetic divergences correspond to geographical distances? and (iv) Are historical colonization patterns from glacial refugia retained? Variation at eight nuclear microsatellite DNA loci are analysed for 666 smallmouth bass from 28 locations, including 425 individuals in Lake Erie; as well as Lakes Superior, Huron, and Ontario, and outgroups from the Mississippi, Ohio, St. Lawrence, and Hudson River drainages. Results reveal marked genetic differences among lake and river populations, as well as surprisingly high divergences among closely spaced riverine sites. Results do not fit an isolation-by-geographical-distance prediction for fine-scale genetic patterns, but show weak correspondence across large geographical scales. Genetic relationships thus are consistent with hypotheses regarding divergent origins through vicariance in glacial refugia, followed by colonization pathways establishing modern-day Great Lakes populations, and maintenance through behavioural site fidelity. Conservation management practices thus should preserve genetic identity and unique characters among smallmouth bass populations.

Discerning population genetic structure is challenging for highly vagile open water animals, as contemporary gene flow may obscure historic phylogeographic patterns. We examined genetic variation among all 10 major river and reef spawning groups of walleye (Sander vitreus vitreus) in Lake Erie for evidence of isolation by distance, segregation by physiographic partitions, and natal site fidelity using 10 nuclear DNA microsatellite loci. Results revealed that although most spawning groups were distinguishable, relationships did not correspond with physiographic basins or distances among localities. Bayesian analyses showed connectivity among some southern shore spawning groups, which included the largest-sized groups. Significant genetic divergence was discerned among walleye spawning in the river systems of eastern Lake Erie, as well as in two sites in western Lake Erie, along with marked isolation from Lake St. Clair. Population structure of Lake Erie walleye thus appears to reflect the interaction of two different intrinsic factors: isolation due to natal site fidelity that maintains patterns of divergence, and connectivity due to individuals that stray from their natal sites to spawn.Résumé : Il n'est pas facile de déterminer la structure génétique de la population chez les animaux très mobiles dans la masse d'eau, car le flux génique actuel peut obscurcir les patrons phylogéographiques du passé. Par l'analyse de 10 locus microsatellites d'ADN nucléaire, nous avons étudiéla variation génétique dans l'ensemble des dix principaux groupes de dorés jaunes (Sander vitreus vitreus) qui fraient dans les rivières et sur les récifs au lac Érié, à la recherche d'indices d'isolement par la distance, de ségrégation par partitions physiographiques et de fidélité au site de naissance. Nos résultats montrent que, bien qu'on puisse reconnaître la plupart des groupes de fraie, leurs relations ne correspondent pas aux bassins hydrographiques, ni aux distances entre les localités. Des analyses bayésiennes révèlent l'existence de connectivité entre certains groupes de fraie de la rive sud, qui incluent les groupes de plus grande taille. Nos données indiquent aussi une divergence génétique significative chez les dorés qui fraient dans les bassins versants de l'est du lac Érié, de même qu'à deux sites dans l'ouest du lac Érié; elles montrent aussi un isolement vis-à-vis le lac StClair. La structure de population des dorés du lac Érié semble donc refléter l'interaction de deux facteurs intrinsèques distincts, l'isolement due à la fidélité au site de naissance qui maintient les patrons de divergence et la connectivité due aux individus qui s'éloignent de leur site de naissance pour se reproduire.[Traduit par la Rédaction] Strange and Stepien 448

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The highland fish fauna of eastern North America consists of Appalachian and Ozark centers of endemism separated by the intervening Glacial Till Plains. Clades within these areas are more closely related phylogenetically to each other than to clades occurring in the intervening formerly glaciated region, suggesting that the Pleistocene glaciations fragmented a widespread highland region and its associated fauna. Alternatively, it is possible that these faunal assemblages predate the glaciations or that recent dispersals may have been more important than vicariance in determining faunal compositions. We examined the relationships among mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotypes within five clades of highland fishes, each with a distribution suggestive of a Pleistocene vicariance event. Darters of the subgenera Litocara and Odontopholis have distributions and mtDNA relationships that are consistent with the Pleistocene integration and burial of the Teays-Mahomet valley, a major drainage of the early Pleistocene. The distribution and mtDNA relationships among subspecies of Erimystax dissimilis are not consistent with Pleistocene vicariance, but relationships among Appalachian haplotypes are consistent with the late Pleistocene integration of the modern Ohio River system. Both Cottus carolinae and the Fundulus catenatus species group have representatives in the Mobile basin consistent with pre-Pleistocene divergences. Three haplotype clusters were found in C. carolinae, corresponding to the Appalachian, Ozark, and upper Kanawha River populations. However, Appalachian and Ozark F. catenatus populations are paraphyletic with respect to each other. This, coupled with a relatively low degree of sequence divergence, suggests that no long-term barriers to gene flow exist for C. carolinae and F. catenatus. These three distinct phylogeographic patterns indicate that Pleistocene vicariance is not the only explanation for the Appalachian-Ozark distribution of highland fish communities.

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