Global determinants of freshwater and marine fish genetic diversity

Abstract

Genetic diversity is estimated to be declining faster than species diversity under escalating threats, but its spatial distribution remains poorly documented at the global scale. Theory predicts that similar processes should foster congruent spatial patterns of genetic and species diversity, but empirical studies are scarce. Using a mined database of 50,588 georeferenced mitochondrial DNA barcode sequences (COI) for 3,815 marine and 1,611 freshwater fish species respectively, we examined the correlation between genetic diversity and species diversity and their global distributions in relation to climate and geography. Genetic diversity showed a clear spatial organisation, but a weak association with species diversity for both marine and freshwater species. We found a predominantly positive relationship between genetic diversity and sea surface temperature for marine species. Genetic diversity of freshwater species varied primarily across the regional basins and was negatively correlated with average river slope. The detection of genetic diversity patterns suggests that conservation measures should consider mismatching spatial signals across multiple facets of biodiversity.

Hidden diversity in Prochilodus nigricans: A new genetic lineage within the Tapajós River basin

“…Our findings reinforce the importance of molecular species delimitation approach in investigating hidden biodiversity into the Amazon ichthyofauna. Since the Amazon River basin is in the spotlight as a candidate area for the construction of diverse hydroelectric plants [ 58 , 59 ] and threatened by other factors, such as overharvesting, deforestation and climate change [ 13 , 60 , 61 ], the development of studies focusing on biodiversity survey is of paramount importance for effective conservation management plans [ 3 , 62 , 63 ], aiming at maintaining the maximum genetic diversity and evolutionary potential for a species [ 64 , 65 ].…”

Molecular Detection Mapping and Analysis Platform for R (MDMAPR) facilitating the standardization, analysis, visualization, and sharing of qPCR data and metadata

“…Research using a DNA barcoding approach has been applied across numerous biological disciplines, including epidemiology ( Stothard et al, 2009 ), border surveillance ( Madden et al, 2019 ), and environmental DNA studies ( Dejean et al, 2012 ). One of the beneficial outcomes of these large barcoding efforts has been the retrospective study of data in the shared data resource, using the aggregate data from many smaller projects ( Shen et al, 2016 ; Madden et al, 2019 ; Manel et al, 2020 ). For example, Manel et al (2020) used the centralized DNA barcoding data to investigate the genetic diversity of marine species and identified the relationship between species’ genetic diversity and environmental factors.…”

“…One of the beneficial outcomes of these large barcoding efforts has been the retrospective study of data in the shared data resource, using the aggregate data from many smaller projects ( Shen et al, 2016 ; Madden et al, 2019 ; Manel et al, 2020 ). For example, Manel et al (2020) used the centralized DNA barcoding data to investigate the genetic diversity of marine species and identified the relationship between species’ genetic diversity and environmental factors. These large DNA barcode studies were made possible through the use of a standard data ontology and data sharing frameworks.…”

Building a global genomics observatory: Using GEOME (the Genomic Observatories Metadatabase) to expedite and improve deposition and retrieval of genetic data and metadata for biodiversity research

“…Sample provenance, indigenous names, and value of the samples to indigenous communities can already be accommodated using existing metadata fields within GEOME. For example, in using existing and standard metadata fields to incorporate indigenous provenance and value, the New Zealand (Crandall, et al, 2019a;Crandall, et al, 2019b;Gratton et al, 2017;Manel et al, 2020;Millette et al, 2020;Miraldo et al, 2016;Salces-Castellano et al, 2020;Smith et al, 2014) and toward the conservation of biodiversity (e.g., supporting the Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Networks;…”