Pan-Continental Genomic Analysis of Eurasian Perch Uncovers Global Diversity Hotspots and Postglacial Recolonization Patterns

Bibtex

@misc{c7bf8369-3434-4b7a-9317-c7da0756c538,
title = "Pan-Continental Genomic Analysis of Eurasian Perch Uncovers Global Diversity Hotspots and Postglacial Recolonization Patterns",
abstract = "The contemporary distribution of genetic diversity in widespread freshwater species reflects a complex interplay between historical processes and recent demographic events. We investigated the postglacial recolonization history of the Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) across its native range spanning Europe and Western Siberia, aiming to understand how historical and recent demographic processes have shaped contemporary genetic diversity in a widespread freshwater species. Using an integrative genomic approach, we combined whole mitochondrial genome resequencing with nuclear SNP-array genotyping (3660 SNPs) for 382 individuals from 188 locations to reconstruct patterns of lineage divergence, population structure, and admixture. We identified five highly divergent mitochondrial lineages, consistent with the existence of multiple glacial refugia across Southwestern, Southeastern, and Central Europe, as well as Siberia. Nuclear data (3660 SNPs) revealed three major genetic clusters corresponding to Western, Northern, and Southeastern Europe, along with strong regional admixture. The Baltic Sea region emerged as a contemporary hotspot of genetic diversity, likely resulting from the admixture and convergence of distinct maternal lineages during the postglacial recolonization of Northern Europe. Signals of isolation by distance were evident both within and across lineages, highlighting the role of limited dispersal in shaping current genetic patterns. The integration of mitochondrial and nuclear genomic data provided a comprehensive view of the evolutionary history of P. fluviatilis, revealing both deep historical divergence and recent admixture events. The existence of multiple glacial refugia and subsequent secondary contact underscores the complexity of postglacial recolonization processes in freshwater fauna. These findings advance our understanding of how historical and contemporary factors interact to shape biodiversity across Europe.",
author = "Vitalii Lichman and Mikhail Ozerov and María-Eugenia López and Kristina Noreikiene and Siim Kahar and Lilian Pukk and Oksana Burimski and Bella Japoshvili and Dijana Blazhekovikj-Dimovska and Dmitry Lajus and Dušan Nikolić and Filipe Ribeiro and Tatyana Gebauer and Jan Kouřil and Jiří Peterka and Petr Blabolil and Martin Čech and Tomáš Jůza and Jan Kubečka and Milan Muška and Marek Šmejkal and Mojmír Vašek and Kimmo Kahilainen and Linas Lozys and Jens Carlsson and William Corcoran and Özgen Yilmaz and Peter Eklöv and Péter Takács and Bálint Bánó and Réka Pallos and Stefan Kazakov and Luchezar Pehlivanov and Thomas Lecocq and Sophie Lambert and Torben Lauridsen and Andreas Berthelsen and Pedro Raposeiro and Hugo Verreycken and Robert Britton and Jost Borcheling and Yuliia Kutsokon and Oleksandr Didenko and Pavel Jurajda and Rafael Miranda and Riho Gross and Anti Vasemägi",
year = "2026",
month = apr,
day = "21",
doi = "https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.73502",
language = "English",
publisher = "Wiley Blackwell",
address = "Belgium,
type = "Other"
}

Authors

Vitalii Lichman
Mikhail Ozerov
María-Eugenia López
Kristina Noreikiene
Siim Kahar
Lilian Pukk
Oksana Burimski
Bella Japoshvili
Dijana Blazhekovikj-Dimovska
Dmitry Lajus
Dušan Nikolić
Filipe Ribeiro
Tatyana Gebauer
Jan Kouřil
Jiří Peterka
Petr Blabolil
Martin Čech
Tomáš Jůza
Jan Kubečka
Milan Muška
Marek Šmejkal
Mojmír Vašek
Kimmo Kahilainen
Linas Lozys
Jens Carlsson
William Corcoran
Özgen Yilmaz
Peter Eklöv
Péter Takács
Bálint Bánó
Réka Pallos
Stefan Kazakov
Luchezar Pehlivanov
Thomas Lecocq
Sophie Lambert
Torben Lauridsen
Andreas Berthelsen
Pedro Raposeiro
Hugo Verreycken
Robert Britton
Jost Borcheling
Yuliia Kutsokon
Oleksandr Didenko
Pavel Jurajda
Rafael Miranda
Riho Gross
Anti Vasemägi