Phylogeographic structure and gene flow in the scale‐eating cichlid Perissodus microlepis (Teleostei, Perciformes, Cichlidae) in southern Lake Tanganyika

摘要: One of the most fragmented habitats in freshwater lakes is rocky littoral zone, where already richly structured habitat frequently interspersed with more pronounced barriers such as sandy bays, river estuaries and deep slopes. Although fragmentation generally constrains dispersal specialized rock-dwelling species, patterns population structure vary sympatric taxa due to species-specific traits. In present study, we examine phylogeographic genetic Perissodus microlepis, a presumptively highly mobile scale-eating cichlid fish endemic Lake Tanganyika lake-wide distribution zone no obvious geographical colour variation. Analysis mitochondrial DNA six populations southern end lake suggests isolation by distance along shoreline. Across large muddy bay, break indicates that environmental restrict gene flow even this species. Restricted across bay not necessarily consequence an intrinsic propensity avoid sand, but may be connected association between P. microlepis other fish, which scale-eaters mimic intermingle order able approach rip off scales from their bodies.