Creating and destroying species: the ‘new’ biodiversity and evolutionarily significant units among New Zealand's galaxiid fishes

Ling, Nicholas; Gleeson, Dianne; Willis, Kate

doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.2001.tb01387.x

Cited by 17 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 36 publications

(31 reference statements)

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“…Dwarf inanga or dune lakes Galaxias, Galaxias gracilis, are presumed to have evolved from landlocked populations of the catadromous inanga and their morphological divergence from the latter may reflect their long period of isolation in lakes. Their genetic similarity to modern catadromous inanga populations supports this conclusion (Ling et al 2001). Other more recently isolated landlocked populations of inanga occur in northern New Zealand at Lakes Waiparera, Ngatu, and Tokerau (Ling et al 2001).…”

Section: Impacts Of Gambusia On New Zealand Fishessupporting

confidence: 60%

“…Their genetic similarity to modern catadromous inanga populations supports this conclusion (Ling et al 2001). Other more recently isolated landlocked populations of inanga occur in northern New Zealand at Lakes Waiparera, Ngatu, and Tokerau (Ling et al 2001). Lake Ngatu was the first wild site of release of mosquitofish in 1933 following their introduction to Auckland in 1930 (McDowall 1990).…”

Section: Impacts Of Gambusia On New Zealand Fishessupporting

confidence: 50%

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Gambusiain New Zealand: Really bad or just misunderstood?

Ling¹

2004

New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research

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Mosquitofish (Gambusia spp.) have been spread throughout most of the temperate world during the 20th Century as biological control agents for mosquitoes. However, in many areas of introduction these small aggressive fish have been implicated in the displacement or exclusion of native species of fish and amphibians. Those species most affected are small, surface-feeding, littoral-zone fishes and the egg and larval stages of amphibians. In New Zealand, the western mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis, was introduced at Auckland in 1930 and has since spread throughout much of the North Island with recent introductions to the northern South Island. They have been implicated in the decline of dwarf inanga, Galaxias gracilis, and may affect recruitment of black mudfish, although the continued abundance of inanga, mudfish, and other small-bodied natives at sites long inhabited by Gambusia implies that competition or predation by the latter may be minimal and that Gambusia occupies an underutilised niche in New Zealand aquatic environments. The ability of Gambusia to cause ecosystem alteration by selective removal of invertebrate grazers is possibly of greater concern in New Zealand than any perceived threat to native fishes.

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Section: Impacts Of Gambusia On New Zealand Fishessupporting

confidence: 60%

Section: Impacts Of Gambusia On New Zealand Fishessupporting

confidence: 50%

Gambusiain New Zealand: Really bad or just misunderstood?

Ling¹

2004

New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research

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“…Accordingly, the loss of migration in amphidromous species leads to geographic isolation and is believed to have initiated genetic and morphological diversification in many taxa [16,24,25]. Well known examples of this process are the freshwater radiations of galaxiid fishes, the diversifications of which have likely been driven by landlocking [26-30]. Consequently, extensive genetic population structuring is observed in several non-migratory species [31,32], including the New Zealand endemic Gobiomorphus breviceps [33].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distinct migratory and non-migratory ecotypes of an endemic New Zealand eleotrid (Gobiomorphus cotidianus) – implications for incipient speciation in island freshwater fish species

et al. 2008

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BackgroundMany postglacial lakes contain fish species with distinct ecomorphs. Similar evolutionary scenarios might be acting on evolutionarily young fish communities in lakes of remote islands. One process that drives diversification in island freshwater fish species is the colonization of depauperate freshwater environments by diadromous (migratory) taxa, which secondarily lose their migratory behaviour. The loss of migration limits dispersal and gene flow between distant populations, and, therefore, is expected to facilitate local morphological and genetic differentiation. To date, most studies have focused on interspecific relationships among migratory species and their non-migratory sister taxa. We hypothesize that the loss of migration facilitates intraspecific morphological, behavioural, and genetic differentiation between migratory and non-migratory populations of facultatively diadromous taxa, and, hence, incipient speciation of island freshwater fish species.ResultsMicrochemical analyses of otolith isotopes (88Sr, 137Ba and 43Ca) differentiated migratory and non-migratory stocks of the New Zealand endemic Gobiomorphus cotidianus McDowall (Eleotridae). Samples were taken from two rivers, one lake and two geographically-separated outgroup locations. Meristic analyses of oculoscapular lateral line canals documented a gradual reduction of these structures in the non-migratory populations. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) fingerprints revealed considerable genetic isolation between migratory and non-migratory populations. Temporal differences in reproductive timing (migratory = winter spawners, non-migratory = summer spawners; as inferred from gonadosomatic indices) provide a prezygotic reproductive isolation mechanism between the two ecotypes.ConclusionThis study provides a holistic look at the role of diadromy in incipient speciation of island freshwater fish species. All four analytical approaches (otolith microchemistry, morphology, spawning timing, population genetics) yield congruent results, and provide clear and independent evidence for the existence of distinct migratory and non-migratory ecotypes within a river in a geographically confined range. The morphological changes within the non-migratory populations parallel interspecific patterns observed in all non-migratory New Zealand endemic Gobiomorphus species and other derived gobiid taxa, a pattern suggesting parallel evolution. This study indicates, for the first time, that distinct ecotypes of island freshwater fish species may be formed as a consequence of loss of migration and subsequent diversification. Therefore, if reproductive isolation persists, these processes may provide a mechanism to facilitate speciation.

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“…The use of genetic techniques may enable the recognition of further species belonging to species complexes which have evolved in the isolation of naturally fragmented populations. This has been the case in New Zealand, where genetic analyses have recently discovered galaxiid species complexes that were previously thought to belong to a single species (Allibone et al, 1996;Allibone and Townsend, 1997;Ling et al, 2001;Waters and Wallis, 2001); this also seems likely on mainland Australia (Raadik, 2001).…”

Section: Present Data and Knowledge Gapsmentioning

confidence: 92%

Status of galaxiid fishes in Tasmania, Australia: conservation listings, threats and management issues

Hardie

Jackson

Barmuta

et al. 2005

Aquatic Conservation

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ABSTRACT1. Fish of the family Galaxiidae are restricted to the southern hemisphere where they occupy a diverse array of habitats ranging from over 2000 m in elevation to sea level. Some species are diadromous and, hence, freshwater, estuarine and marine habitats are used during their life-cycle; other species complete their entire life-cycles in freshwater environments.2. Tasmania has a diverse galaxiid fauna that accounts for 64% of native freshwater fish species found on the island. The Tasmanian galaxiid fauna is characterized by high species richness (5 genera and 16 species), endemism (11 species), restricted distributions, and non-diadromous life histories (11 species).3. The galaxiid fauna of Tasmania has significant conservation status with 69% of species considered 'threatened'. The conservation status of the fauna is recognized at State, national and international levels.4. The key threats to galaxiids in Tasmania are exotic species, hydrological manipulations, restricted distributions, general habitat degradation and exploitation of stocks.5. Although work has recently been undertaken to conserve and manage Tasmanian galaxiid populations, the fauna is still thought to be imperilled. Knowledge gaps that need to be addressed include the biology and ecology of most species (e.g. reproductive biology, life histories, habitat use and requirements) and impacts of habitat manipulations, as well as mechanisms and impacts of interactions with exotic species. Techniques to monitor accurately the status of galaxiid species and their populations need to be developed and the coexistence of some galaxiids with introduced salmonids should also be examined.

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Creating and destroying species: the ‘new’ biodiversity and evolutionarily significant units among New Zealand's galaxiid fishes

Cited by 17 publications

References 36 publications

Gambusiain New Zealand: Really bad or just misunderstood?

Gambusiain New Zealand: Really bad or just misunderstood?

Distinct migratory and non-migratory ecotypes of an endemic New Zealand eleotrid (Gobiomorphus cotidianus) – implications for incipient speciation in island freshwater fish species

Status of galaxiid fishes in Tasmania, Australia: conservation listings, threats and management issues

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