Ný vísindagrein um tegundamyndun og þróun ála við Norður Atlantshaf komin út í Molecular Ecology
Ný vísindagrein eftir Bjarna Jónsson Náttúrustofu NV og samstarfsfólk beggja vegna Atlantshafsins um þróun og tegundamyndun ála við Norður Atlantshaf er komin út í tímaritinu Molecular Ecology. Álar á Íslandi og Ameríku eiga sér sameiginlega þróunarsögu. Nú tvær tegundir sem hrygna í Þanghafinu og skarast þar í tíma og staðsetningu. Þrátt fyrir það er kynblendinga á milli tegundanna og afkvæmi þeirra, nánast hvergi annarsstaðar að finna en á Íslandi og mest á NV. Rannsóknir á íslenskum álum eru í raun svarta boxið til að skilja myndun tegundanna tveggja og hvert þær stefna. Hér er fjallað um hvort tegundirnar 2 hafi orðið til í einangrun eða samsvæða.
Abstract
Speciation in the ocean could differ from terrestrial environments due to fewer barriers to gene flow. Hence, sympatric speciation might be common, with American and European eel being candidates for exemplifying this. They show disjunct continental distributions on both sides of the Atlantic, but spawn in overlapping regions of the Sargasso Sea from where juveniles are advected to North American, European and North African coasts. Hybridization and introgression are known to occur, with hybrids almost exclusively observed in Iceland. Different speciation scenarios have been suggested, involving either vicariance or sympatric ecological speciation. Using RAD sequencing and whole‐genome sequencing data from parental species and F1 hybrids, we analysed speciation history based on the joint allele frequency spectrum (JAFS) and pairwise sequentially Markovian coalescent (PSMC) plots. JAFS supported a model involving a split without gene flow 150,000–160,000 generations ago, followed by secondary contact 87,000–92,000 generations ago, with 64% of the genome experiencing restricted gene flow. This supports vicariance rather than sympatric speciation, likely associated with Pleistocene glaciation cycles and ocean current changes. Whole‐genome PSMC analysis of F1 hybrids from Iceland suggested divergence 200,000 generations ago and indicated subsequent gene flow rather than strict isolation. Finally, simulations showed that results from both approaches (JAFS and PSMC) were congruent. Hence, there is strong evidence against sympatric speciation in North Atlantic eels. These results reiterate the need for careful consideration of cases of possible sympatric speciation, as even in seemingly barrier‐free oceanic environments palaeoceanographic factors may have promoted vicariance and allopatric speciation.