Rapid and coupled phenotypic and genetic divergence in Icelandic Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus)

Resource polymorphism has been proposed as an important phase of diversification and speciation in vertebrates. Studies of fish in young lakes of the Northern Hemisphere indicate variably advanced cases of adaptive trophic diversification. We have previously proposed a scheme describing this variati...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian journal of fisheries and aquatic sciences 1999-12, Vol.56 (12), p.2229-2234
Main Authors: Gíslason, Davíð, Ferguson, Moira M, Skúlason, Skúli, Snorrason, Sigurður S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Brackish
Char (Fish)
Fish
Freshwater
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Genetics
Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution
Iceland
Invertebrata
Marine
Population genetics, reproduction patterns
Salvelinus alpinus
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Summary:Resource polymorphism has been proposed as an important phase of diversification and speciation in vertebrates. Studies of fish in young lakes of the Northern Hemisphere indicate variably advanced cases of adaptive trophic diversification. We have previously proposed a scheme describing this variation in terms of a gradient of resource-based polymorphic traits, emphasizing flexible behaviour in early phases and morphological divergence in more advanced phases. Here, we present data on Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) in Icelandic lakes exhibiting a variable degree of phenotypic and genotypic segregation. We show that (i) the morphs are at different levels of phenotypic segregation and reproductive isolation and in one case completely reproductively isolated, (ii) morphs within lakes appear to be of intralacustrine origin, and (iii) the morphological and genetic divergence of morphs is correlated, suggesting a role for trophic adaptation as a driving force in morph segregation.
ISSN:0706-652X
1205-7533
DOI:10.1139/f99-245