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Population differentiation in perch Perca fluviatilis : environmental effects on gene flow?
Author(s) -
Bergek S.,
Sundblad G.,
Björklund M.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8649.2010.02565.x
Subject(s) - perch , gene flow , biology , ecology , habitat , population , genetic divergence , archipelago , genetic variation , evolutionary biology , gene , fishery , fish <actinopterygii> , genetic diversity , genetics , demography , sociology
Environmental parameters were used to investigate barriers to gene flow and genetic differentiation in the Eurasian perch ( Perca fluviatilis L.) at a small geographical scale in an archipelago system. Significant genetic differentiation was found among locations. Distance per se did not play a major role in the reduction of gene flow. Instead, the largest genetic differences between populations correlated with major changes in environmental conditions, such as temperature at time of spawning. The results show that genetic divergence can arise between populations in habitats thought to be highly connected, and that environmental variables can influence the level of gene flow between populations, including those that are at small spatial scales (tens of kilometres). The importance of a landscape approach when investigating genetic differentiation and defining barriers to gene flow is highlighted.