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The biogeography and phylogeny of schizothoracine fishes ( S chizopygopsis ) in the Q inghai‐ T ibetan P lateau
Author(s) -
Qi Delin,
Guo Songchang,
Chao Yan,
Kong Qinghui,
Li Changzhong,
Xia Mingzhe,
Xie Baosheng,
Zhao Kai
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
zoologica scripta
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.204
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1463-6409
pISSN - 0300-3256
DOI - 10.1111/zsc.12116
Subject(s) - biology , phylogenetics , monophyly , phylogenetic tree , clade , taxon , zoology , molecular phylogenetics , genus , biogeography , evolutionary biology , ecology , gene , genetics
Freshwater fish belonging to the genus S chizopygopsis are widespread in drainages throughout the Q inghai‐ T ibetan P lateau and, thus, a model group with which to investigate how paleo‐drainage changes linked to historical uplifting within the Q inghai‐ T ibetan P lateau influence speciation. To date, the phylogenetic and taxonomic relationships within S chizopygopsis remain controversial. In this study, we constructed a comprehensive molecular phylogeny of S chizopygopsis based on six mitochondrial gene sequences. We compared the taxonomic relationships revealed by this phylogeny with those obtained from morphological data. We also used this phylogeny to assess the extent to which the evolution of S chizopygopsis has been driven by paleo‐drainage changes linked to uplifting of the Q inghai‐ T ibetan P lateau. Results indicated that all S chizopygopsis taxa formed a monophyletic group comprising five major clades, which were inconsistent with the taxonomic relationships based on morphology for this group. Our results also strongly supported the validity of S . anteroventris and S . microcephalus as distinct species within S chizopygopsis . Molecular calibrations showed that species within the middle Y angtze species diverged earlier (~4.5 Mya) than species within the I ndus R iver (~3.0 Mya), the M ekong R iver (~2.8 Mya) and the T sangpo + S alween rivers (~2.5 Mya). The most recent evolutionary splits occurred among species from the upper and lower Y angtze R iver, the Y ellow R iver and the Q iadam B asin at about 1.8 to 0.3 Mya. Our molecular evidence and use of the molecular clock calibration have allowed us to associate speciation events within the genus S chizopygopsis to the formation and separation of paleo‐drainage connections caused by tectonic events during the uplifting of the Q inghai‐ T ibetan P lateau (~4.5 Mya). This work underlines the dominant role of vicariance in shaping the evolutionary history of the genus S chizopygopsis . Further research using multiple loci and more extensive sampling will reveal a more complete picture of the phylogenetic relationships and biogeography of S chizopygopsis fishes.