Biogeography, Conservation, and Genetics Biology of Fishes

Exam 2 information Exam 2 information Final Exam information Final Exam information Presentations Presentations Biogeography, Conservation, and Genetics Biogeography, Conservation, and Genetics Overview

Guidelines online Guidelines online All groups submit written reports All groups submit written reports Attendance required at all student presentations Attendance required at all student presentations Student Presentations material will be on Final Exam Student Presentations material will be on Final Exam Presentation Guidelines

November 15 – Conservation ecology case study synthesis November 15 – Conservation ecology case study synthesis November 20 – Exam 2 November 20 – Exam 2 November 22 – Thanksgiving Break November 22 – Thanksgiving Break November 27 – Student Presentations November 27 – Student Presentations November 29 – Guest Lecture 3 November 29 – Guest Lecture 3 December 4, 6, 11 – Student Presentations December 4, 6, 11 – Student Presentations December 19 – FINAL EXAM (Cumulative) December 19 – FINAL EXAM (Cumulative)10:30am-12:30pm Syllabus Revisions

Biogeography – the study of the distribution of life on Earth, or which organisms live where and why Biogeography – the study of the distribution of life on Earth, or which organisms live where and why 2 primary components 2 primary components Historical biogeography – influences on distribution over long temporal and large spatial scales Historical biogeography – influences on distribution over long temporal and large spatial scales Ecological biogeography – influences on distribution based on interactions with environment over short temporal and small spatial scales Ecological biogeography – influences on distribution based on interactions with environment over short temporal and small spatial scales Foundation in continental drift and plate tectonics Foundation in continental drift and plate tectonics Freshwater fishes provide some of the most important data Freshwater fishes provide some of the most important data Biogeography

Historical Biogeography – why is a taxon restricted to a particular geographic area? Historical Biogeography – why is a taxon restricted to a particular geographic area? 2 primary components/processes (consider together) 2 primary components/processes (consider together) Vicariance – barrier appears and separates ancestral population into two groups, eventually separate taxa (barrier & taxa same age) Vicariance – barrier appears and separates ancestral population into two groups, eventually separate taxa (barrier & taxa same age) Dispersal – taxa develop from dispersal into new areas from ancestors that originally occurred elsewhere. Previously existing barrier is crossed by some individuals, eventually separate taxa (barrier older than taxa) Dispersal – taxa develop from dispersal into new areas from ancestors that originally occurred elsewhere. Previously existing barrier is crossed by some individuals, eventually separate taxa (barrier older than taxa) Biogeography

Historical Biogeography – why is a taxon restricted to a particular geographic area? Historical Biogeography – why is a taxon restricted to a particular geographic area? Vicariance Vicariance Dispersal Dispersal Biogeography

2 primary methods 2 primary methods Phylogeography – distribution of geneologies (gene lineages) within and among closely related species Phylogeography – distribution of geneologies (gene lineages) within and among closely related species Cladistic biogeography – based on cladistics (phylogenetics) to imply relationships which reflect geological and ecological history (area relationships inform general patterns among taxa) Cladistic biogeography – based on cladistics (phylogenetics) to imply relationships which reflect geological and ecological history (area relationships inform general patterns among taxa) Process (mechanisms) versus Pattern (distribution) Process (mechanisms) versus Pattern (distribution) Biogeography

Biogeography of Fishes Biogeography of Fishes ~29,000 species ~29,000 species ~60% marine, ~40% principally freshwater ~60% marine, ~40% principally freshwater Less than 1% are migratory between fresh & saltwater Less than 1% are migratory between fresh & saltwater Over 10,000 of 29,000 species occur in freshwater (0.01% of world’s water) Over 10,000 of 29,000 species occur in freshwater (0.01% of world’s water) Marine environments not well-explored (deep-sea, second coelacanth) Marine environments not well-explored (deep-sea, second coelacanth) Biogeography

Biogeography of Fishes Biogeography of Fishes Freshwater Regions (Hart & Reynolds 2000) Freshwater Regions (Hart & Reynolds 2000) Nearctic (North America)1060 Nearctic (North America)1060 Neotropical (South & Central America) 8000 Neotropical (South & Central America) 8000 Palaearctic (Europe, excluding former USSR) 360 Palaearctic (Europe, excluding former USSR) 360 Ethiopian (Africa)2850 Ethiopian (Africa)2850 Oriental (Southeast Asia) 3000 Oriental (Southeast Asia) 3000 Australian (Australia & New Guinea) 500 Australian (Australia & New Guinea) 500 Biogeography

Biogeography of Fishes Biogeography of Fishes Biogeography

Marine Regions (Hart & Reynolds 2000; shore to 200 m) Marine Regions (Hart & Reynolds 2000; shore to 200 m) Western North Atlantic 1200 Western North Atlantic 1200 Mediterranean400 Mediterranean400 Tropical western Atlantic1500 Tropical western Atlantic1500 Eastern North Pacific 600 Eastern North Pacific 600 Tropical eastern Pacific 750 Tropical eastern Pacific 750 Tropical Indo-West Pacific4000 Tropical Indo-West Pacific4000 Temperate Indo-Pacific2100 Temperate Indo-Pacific2100 Antarctica200 Antarctica200 Biogeography

Biogeography of Freshwater Fishes Biogeography of Freshwater Fishes Most freshwater fauna are poorly known (exceptions are North America and Europe) Most freshwater fauna are poorly known (exceptions are North America and Europe) Thorough survey work needed to inform historical biogeography; too late in most cases Thorough survey work needed to inform historical biogeography; too late in most cases Endemic fauna wiped out Endemic fauna wiped out Overexploitation, invasive species, habitat alteration Overexploitation, invasive species, habitat alteration Focus on North American freshwater species Focus on North American freshwater species Mississippi River refugium and Wisconsinan Glaciation Mississippi River refugium and Wisconsinan Glaciation Glaciated versus non-glaciated regions Glaciated versus non-glaciated regions Biogeography

Focus on North American freshwater species Focus on North American freshwater species Mississippi River refugium and Wisconsinan Glaciation Mississippi River refugium and Wisconsinan Glaciation Biogeography

Focus on North American freshwater species Focus on North American freshwater species Glaciated versus non-glaciated regions Glaciated versus non-glaciated regions Biogeography

Biodiversity loss Biodiversity loss Global crisis Global crisis Threatens all major habitats Threatens all major habitats Multiple geographical and ecological scales Multiple geographical and ecological scales Loss of local populations can have cascading effects Loss of local populations can have cascading effects Disrupt ecosystem services Disrupt ecosystem services Relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem services is a function of local populations, not just existence of the species – conservation of populations is important Relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem services is a function of local populations, not just existence of the species – conservation of populations is important Conservation

Freshwater systems experience dramatic declines in biodiversity Freshwater systems experience dramatic declines in biodiversity Greater biodiversity loss than most terrestrial systems Greater biodiversity loss than most terrestrial systems Freshwater conservation priorities lag Freshwater conservation priorities lag Considered “sumps” and “receivers” of industrial & domestic wastes and land-use effluents Considered “sumps” and “receivers” of industrial & domestic wastes and land-use effluents Exceptionally vulnerable to anthropogenic influence Exceptionally vulnerable to anthropogenic influence Conservation

Freshwater systems experience dramatic declines in biodiversity Freshwater systems experience dramatic declines in biodiversity ~3,600 of 10,250 known freshwater species (35%) are considered imperiled or threatened ~3,600 of 10,250 known freshwater species (35%) are considered imperiled or threatened ~ already extinct ~ already extinct Primary reasons are habitat alteration and exotic species invasions Primary reasons are habitat alteration and exotic species invasions 95% of extinctions have occurred in past 50 years 95% of extinctions have occurred in past 50 years Conservation

Identification of “stock” or population structure is a primary goal in genetics of fish populations Identification of “stock” or population structure is a primary goal in genetics of fish populations Multiple techniques – nuclear DNA, mitochondrial, microsatellites Multiple techniques – nuclear DNA, mitochondrial, microsatellites Applications to fisheries management and conservation Applications to fisheries management and conservation Once lost, cannot be restored Once lost, cannot be restored Conservation Genetics

Multiple techniques (using PCR) Multiple techniques (using PCR) Nuclear DNA – evolves slowest, conservative; good for species studies Nuclear DNA – evolves slowest, conservative; good for species studies Mitochondrial DNA – evolves faster, maternally inherited; good intermediate for species and population studies Mitochondrial DNA – evolves faster, maternally inherited; good intermediate for species and population studies Microsatellites – repeating structures in nDNA; evolves fastest, high degree of population resolution Microsatellites – repeating structures in nDNA; evolves fastest, high degree of population resolution Conservation Genetics

Conservation of genetic diversity is important for biodiversity and ecosystem function Conservation of genetic diversity is important for biodiversity and ecosystem function Once lost, diversity cannot be restored Once lost, diversity cannot be restored Poor knowledge of diversity partitioning within species or among populations – without appropriate knowledge, cannot assess conservation measures Poor knowledge of diversity partitioning within species or among populations – without appropriate knowledge, cannot assess conservation measures Conservation Genetics

Quantification of genetic population structuring is needed, particularly for threatened or vulnerable species Quantification of genetic population structuring is needed, particularly for threatened or vulnerable species Structuring much more extensive for freshwater & anadromous species compared to marine species (endemics, salmonid stocks) Structuring much more extensive for freshwater & anadromous species compared to marine species (endemics, salmonid stocks) Conservation Genetics

Prioritize stocks based on genetic and ecological consequences of extinction Prioritize stocks based on genetic and ecological consequences of extinction Conservation efforts include habitat protection, reduction of harvest, stock enhancement (using same strain), translocation* Conservation efforts include habitat protection, reduction of harvest, stock enhancement (using same strain), translocation* Determine minimum effective population size Determine minimum effective population size High population size and diversity allows for some adaptive evolution and can reduce effects of inbreeding High population size and diversity allows for some adaptive evolution and can reduce effects of inbreeding Conservation Genetics

Identification of “stock” or population structure is a primary goal in genetics of fish populations Identification of “stock” or population structure is a primary goal in genetics of fish populations Multiple techniques – nuclear DNA, mitochondrial, microsatellites Multiple techniques – nuclear DNA, mitochondrial, microsatellites Applications to fisheries management and conservation Applications to fisheries management and conservation Once lost, cannot be restored Once lost, cannot be restored Conservation Genetics

Important for management and conservation of both commercial and non-commercial species Important for management and conservation of both commercial and non-commercial species Should be used in conjunction with other techniques – life history traits, morphological characteristics, microchemistry – for more complete picture of structuring Should be used in conjunction with other techniques – life history traits, morphological characteristics, microchemistry – for more complete picture of structuring Careful husbandry of genetic resources is required (catalog, monitor, conserve) Careful husbandry of genetic resources is required (catalog, monitor, conserve) Conservation Genetics