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Population genetic and phylogenetic insights into the adaptive radiation of Antarctic notothenioid fishes

Matschiner, Michael. Population genetic and phylogenetic insights into the adaptive radiation of Antarctic notothenioid fishes. 2011, Doctoral Thesis, University of Basel, Faculty of Science.

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Official URL: http://edoc.unibas.ch/diss/DissB_9755

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Abstract

Adaptive radiation is the evolution of ecological and phenotypic diversity within a rapidly
multiplying lineage, a phenomenon that is considered responsible for a great part of Earthʼs
biodiversity. It occurs as a response to ecological opportunity in the form of competitor-free
habitat, extinction of antagonists, or the emergence of a key innovation. One of the most
spectacular adaptive radiations in the marine realm is the diversification of notothenioid fishes in
the freezing waters of Antarctica. This radiation has led to a unique dominance of the Antarctic
marine habitat by notothenioids, and is often assumed to result from the key innovation of
freeze resistance. Antifreeze glycoproteins are present in blood and tissue of Antarctic
notothenioids and enable them to survive in their sub-zero environment. Notothenioids are
further characterized by prolonged pelagic larval stages, that have been suggested to contribute
to high levels of inter-population gene flow with oceanic currents, which seems to contradict the
high speciation rates observed in the notothenioid adaptive radiation. This doctoral work uses
molecular tools to investigate the character of gene flow in notothenioids as well as the origin of
their diversification. It is demonstrated that larval dispersal is a common agent of long-distance
gene flow in many notothenioid species. The key innovation hypothesis is corroborated by an
extensive molecular dating of the divergence events of notothenioids and related acanthomorph
fishes. New tools for the analysis of microsatellite markers and for Bayesian divergence date
estimation are developed.
Advisors:Salzburger, Walter
Committee Members:Hanel, Reinhold and Reusch, Thorsten
Faculties and Departments:05 Faculty of Science > Departement Umweltwissenschaften > Integrative Biologie > Evolutionary Biology (Salzburger)
UniBasel Contributors:Matschiner, Michael and Salzburger, Walter
Item Type:Thesis
Thesis Subtype:Doctoral Thesis
Thesis no:9755
Thesis status:Complete
Number of Pages:376 S.
Language:English
Identification Number:
edoc DOI:
Last Modified:22 Jan 2018 15:51
Deposited On:24 Jan 2012 15:32

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