Phylogeny and phylogeography of the genus Luciobarbus (Haeckel, 1843) in Algeria inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequence variation

Abstract

Phylogenetic relationships and biogeographical patterns of the genus Luciobarbus in Algeria were investigated by analysing the complete cytochrome b sequence variation. With regard to species of the Maghreb Province and the Iberian Peninsula, phylogenetic analysis resulted in five strongly supported clades and a non-monophyletic origin for the Algerian populations. The present study supports the existence of two distinct lineages of L. setivimensis which could have diverged posterior to the emplacement of the Kabylides onto the African margin. Analysis of the 48 haplotypes detected within populations showed a clear phylogeographic structure strongly correlated with species’ geographical distribution. Two haplotypes were found to be shared between different species attesting the possibility that an introgression would have occurred within the genus Luciobarbus in Algeria. The divergence time estimate suggests a rapid radiation of the genus Luciobarbus in Algeria and a pattern of distribution of populations shaped under paleogeographic conditions such as the tectonic dynamics which have led to the change in the geographic configuration of North Africa at the end of Miocene, the formation of the current fluvial basins’ net in the Pliocene as well as the end of the Tell System building in the Pleistocene which seems to have played an important role in the speciation of this genus.

Keywords:

• Cyprinidae
• Algeria
• genetic diversity
• speciation
• paleobiogeography

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Louaï Benseghir for assistance in field work. We also thank Zahra Meddah, Abderrahmane Mehdaoui, Nasreddine Touil for their help during sampling, directors and agents of ANBT (Agence Nationale des Barrages et Transferts), ANRH (Agence Nationale des Ressources Hydrauliques), Direction de la pêche et de l’agriculture at Algiers, Blida, Médéa, Ain Defla, Aoulef and all people who has helped us by any way in carrying out this work. This work was funded by the Ministery of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Algeria and the Ministery of Economy and Competitiveness of Spain.

Disclosure statement

We declare that we have no conflict of interest.