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CONTRASTING THE ROLE OF HISTORIC FACTORS IN PHYLOGEOGRAPIC PATTERNS IN THE NATIVE JOHNNY DARTER (Etheostoma nigrum) AND INVASIVE ROUND GOBY (Neogobius melanostomus) IN LOWER MICHIGAN
  • Abby Wicks,
  • Miles Bowman,
  • Thomas Dowling
Abby Wicks
Wayne State University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Miles Bowman
Wayne State University
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Thomas Dowling
Wayne State University
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Abstract

Round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) is an invasive fish present in all five Great Lakes and is becoming increasingly common in their tributaries. Johnny darter (Etheostoma nigrum) is a native species that often coexists with N. melanostomus. In this work, historic factors are addressed as a source of genomic variation in study populations of these species. To do this, patterns of variation in the mitochondrial gene NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) were characterized for both species throughout Lower Michigan. Populations of N. melanostomus and E. nigrum were sampled from 17 localities representing both eastern and western basins of Lower Michigan to test the hypothesis that populations differ between the eastern and western basins of the Great Lakes. Neogobius melanostomus populations were largely homogenous with no significant differences detected among populations or between the eastern and western basins. Additionally, N. melanostomus exhibited no evidence of overarching historical genetic structure, consistent with the recent invasion and rapid expansion of this species. Etheostoma nigrum exhibited significant differentiation among local populations; however, similarity among mtDNA haplotypes indicated that differences among populations are recent, suggesting that local forces are a more important factor in shaping patterns of variation than historical factors. Contrary to predictions, there were no significant differences detected between the eastern and western basins of the Great Lakes; however, construction of a neighbor joining tree with Fst estimates revealed clustering of populations by basin with some anomalies. These anomalies may be the result of recent stream capture events facilitating gene flow between the two basins.
26 Jan 2024Submitted to Ecology and Evolution
30 Jan 2024Submission Checks Completed
30 Jan 2024Assigned to Editor
16 Jul 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
16 Jul 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
05 Aug 20241st Revision Received
06 Aug 2024Submission Checks Completed
06 Aug 2024Assigned to Editor
06 Aug 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
09 Aug 2024Editorial Decision: Accept