Genetic analysis of Discogobio (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) in the Central Yunnan Basin: Effects of geological events and conservation perspectives

Geological events can have a major effect on the genetic structure and differentiation of fish populations. The relative importance of key geological events on the distribution and genetic structure of endemic fish of the genus Discogobio in the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau has not yet been evaluated. Studies of the phylogeography of Discogobio fishes could provide insights into spatial and temporal changes in their population size, dispersal history, and extent of geographical isolation, and the data acquired in such studies can be used to aid their conservation. Here, we used single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) to characterize the phylogeography of Discogobio fishes. Our analysis supports the endemicity of Discogobio. However, Discogobio samples from different regions contained multiple ancestral components, including admixed and diversified genetic components. This might stem from polymorphism of the ancestors themselves or the infiltration of genes caused by hybridization between Discogobio species. We estimated that the most recent common ancestor (MRCA) of Discogobio fish in the Central Yunnan Basin was approximately 4.63–3.83 million years ago (Ma). We also inferred that the evolution of Discogobio in the Central Yunnan Basin was closely related to the expansion and contraction of the lake basin around 2.59–0.13 Ma. We proposed measures that could be implemented to conserve remaining populations and their corresponding habitats to prevent further declines and preserve the biodiversity of this unique genus.