Towards the conservation of the crucian carp in Europe: Prolific
hybridization but no evidence for introgression between native and
non-native species.
Abstract
Hybridization plays a pivotal role in evolution, influencing local
adaptation and speciation. However, it can also reduce biodiversity,
which is especially damaging when native and non-native species meet.
Hybridization can threaten native species via competition (with vigorous
hybrids), reproductive resource wastage, and gene introgression. The
latter, in particular, could result in increased fitness in invasive
species, decreased fitness of natives, and compromise reintroduction or
recovery conservation practices. In this study, we use a combination of
RAD sequencing and microsatellites for a range-wide sample set of 1366
fish to evaluate the potential for hybridisation and introgression
between native crucian carp (Carassius carassius) and three
non-native species (Carassius auratus auratus, Carassius
auratus gibelio, and Cyprinus carpio) in European water bodies.
We found hybridization between native and non-native species in 82% of
populations with non-natives present, highlighting the potential for
substantial ecological impacts from hybrids on crucian carp populations.
However, despite such high rates of hybridization, we could find no
evidence of introgression between these species. The presence of
triploid backcrosses in at least two populations points suggests that
the lack of introgression among these species is likely due to meiotic
dysfunction in hybrids, leading to production of polyploid offspring
which are unable to reproduce sexually. This result is promising for
crucian reintroduction programs, as it implies limited risk to the
genetic integrity of source populations. Future research should
investigate the reproductive potential of triploid hybrids and the
ecological pressures hybrids impose on C. carassius.