A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Pan‐Continental Genomic Analysis of Eurasian Perch Uncovers Global Diversity Hotspots and Postglacial Recolonization Patterns
Authors: Lichman, Vitalii; Ozerov, Mikhail; López, María‐Eugenia; Noreikiene, Kristina; Kahar, Siim; Pukk, Lilian; Burimski, Oksana; Japoshvili, Bella; Blazhekovikj‐Dimovska, Dijana; Lajus, Dmitry; Nikolić, Dušan; Ribeiro, Filipe; Gebauer, Tatyana; Kouřil, Jan; Peterka, Jiří; Blabolil, Petr; Čech, Martin; Jůza, Tomáš; Kubečka, Jan; Muška, Milan; Šmejkal, Marek; Vašek, Mojmír; Kahilainen, Kimmo; Ložys, Linas; Carlsson, Jens; Corcoran, William; Yilmaz, Özgen; Eklöv, Peter; Takács, Péter; Bánó, Bálint; Pallos, Réka; Kazakov, Stefan; Pehlivanov, Luchezar; Lecocq, Thomas; Lambert, Sophie; Lauridsen, Torben; Berthelsen, Andreas; Raposeiro, Pedro; Verreycken, Hugo; Britton, Robert; Borcheling, Jost; Kutsokon, Yuliia; Didenko, Oleksandr; Jurajda, Pavel; Miranda, Rafael; Gross, Riho; Vasemägi, Anti
Publisher: Wiley
Publication year: 2026
Journal: Ecology and Evolution
Article number: e73502
Volume: 16
Issue: 4
eISSN: 2045-7758
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.73502
Publication's open availability at the time of reporting: Open Access
Publication channel's open availability : Open Access publication channel
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.73502
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/523159550
Self-archived copy's licence: CC BY
Self-archived copy's version: Publisher`s PDF
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.
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Funding information in the publication:
This study was funded by the Swedish Research Council (grant 2020-03916 to A.V.), the Estonian Research Council (grant PRG852 to R.G.), the Ella and Georg Ehrnrooth Foundation (to M.O.), and INTERACT (International Network for Terrestrial Research and Monitoring in the Arctic; to A.V.). Detailed information on funding sources supporting the collection and provision of samples by contributing partners is available in Table S5.