Genetic diversity of Rhinogobius delicatus (Perciformes: Gobiidae): origins of the freshwater fish in East Taiwan

Abstract

Mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b and d-loop sequences (1,984 bp) from 92 specimens of the freshwater goby Rhinogobius delicatus from seven drainages in East Taiwan were identified as two major lineages exhibiting a southern or northern distribution. The existence of low genetic diversity, a pattern of population decline and high population differentiation (F_ST=0.711) support the need for the development of management strategies for the conservation of localized populations. The results of a statistical dispersal-vicariance analysis suggested that the ancestral populations of R. delicatus were widely distributed in East Taiwan. Compared with the phylogeographic patterns of the other endemic eastern Taiwan freshwater fishes, Onychostoma alticorpus, Aphyocypris kikuckii and Hemimyzon taitungensis, our study suggests that the freshwater fishes colonized East Taiwan through northeastern and southwestern Taiwan, although the ancestral populations colonized the island before it reached its present shape.

Keywords:

• Rhinogobius delicatus
• mitochondrial
• origin
• dispersal
• vicariance

Acknowledgements

We thank Ms. Shun-Yeh Chien, Mr. Chu-Ming Chou, Mr. Mien Chang, and Mr. Ming-Tai Chou for the help of collecting samples.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by grants from the Ministry of Science and Technology of Taiwan [No. MOST 106-2611-M-291-007].