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Phylogeography of Stonerollers across North America (Campostoma: Cyprinidae)
Presenter(s)
Taya de Blonk, Juliet Wimberly
Abstract or Description
Stonerollers from the genus Campostoma are widespread and abundant across North America. This genus of herbivorous minnows inhabits streams along a broad range between southern Canada to central Mexico and spans across central and eastern North America. The dynamic geographic history of Campostoma has made hypotheses of their evolutionary relationships poorly resolved. This is because previous methods have relied heavily on geographically variable and often integrating morphological characteristics. A comprehensive analysis involving sufficiently informative systematic markers and thorough taxon sampling has yet to be conducted. A potential issue is seen in the widespread taxon C. anomalum where preliminary mitochondrial molecular evidence suggests it is not a monophyletic group. The purpose of this study is to resolve inconsistencies from previously constructed phylogenies by using DNA sequence data from the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. We expect to see more diversity and distinct taxa in this genus than is currently recognized by using this method. This will be the most comprehensive analysis to date of wide-range patterns of genetic variation and evolutionary relationships exhibited by the genus Campostoma. These findings will ultimately contribute to existing knowledge on the species diversity of freshwater fish and their distributions in hyper-diverse regions.
Comments
Brooke Persons4 years ago
I really enjoyed this presentation and thought that your discussion of the project was fascinating. I've got two questions.
First, how did you generate or capture the samples from which you extracted DNA?
Second, your discussion today briefly mentioned the impact of glaciation on biodiversity. Can you speak a bit more about how that might have impacted phylogenetic relationships within this genus?
Kudos on an excellent project and thanks in advance for answering these questions!
First, how did you generate or capture the samples from which you extracted DNA?
Second, your discussion today briefly mentioned the impact of glaciation on biodiversity. Can you speak a bit more about how that might have impacted phylogenetic relationships within this genus?
Kudos on an excellent project and thanks in advance for answering these questions!
• • 1 comment
Taya de Blonk4 years ago
Hi, Brooke! Thanks so much for your kind words and for your questions. Firstly, we received our samples from several different collaborators which are listed on the top of our poster. They sent us an array of both whole fish and clippings that we then went on to extract DNA from. The fish were caught using seine fishing and electrofishing methods. Second, there are two particular glaciation events which have had a great impact on biodiversity in North American freshwater systems. During the Pleistocene epoch, sea levels were low during a period of glaciation. This caused southern Gulf Coast drainages to be extended and adjacent drainages were connected after a period of isolation. Following this big change in the structure of freshwater streams, an interglacial period during the Pliocene epoch caused sea levels to rise significantly to the point where those drainages were isolated once again. These glaciation events have allowed for very complex interactions amongst Stonerollers and this genus has a lot of morphological and genetic variability based on its distribution.