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Alther R, Fronhofer EA, Altermatt F. Dispersal behaviour and riverine network connectivity shape the genetic diversity of freshwater amphipod metapopulations. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:6551-6565. [PMID: 34597440 PMCID: PMC9293088 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Theory predicts that the distribution of genetic diversity in a landscape is strongly dependent on the connectivity of the metapopulation and the dispersal of individuals between patches. However, the influence of explicit spatial configurations such as dendritic landscapes on the genetic diversity of metapopulations is still understudied, and theoretical corroborations of empirical patterns are largely lacking. Here, we used microsatellite data and stochastic simulations of two metapopulations of freshwater amphipods in a 28,000 km2 riverine network to study the influence of spatial connectivity and dispersal strategies on the spatial distribution of their genetic diversity. We found a significant imprint of the effects of riverine network connectivity on the local and global genetic diversity of both amphipod species. Data from 95 sites showed that allelic richness significantly increased towards more central nodes of the network. This was also seen for observed heterozygosity, yet not for expected heterozygosity. Genetic differentiation increased with instream distance. In simulation models, depending on the mutational model assumed, upstream movement probability and dispersal rate, respectively, emerged as key factors explaining the empirically observed distribution of local genetic diversity and genetic differentiation. Surprisingly, the role of site‐specific carrying capacities, for example by assuming a direct dependency of population size on local river size, was less clear cut: while our best fitting model scenario included this feature, over all simulations, scaling of carrying capacities did not increase data‐model fit. This highlights the importance of dispersal behaviour along spatial networks in shaping population genetic diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roman Alther
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland.,Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Emanuel A Fronhofer
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland.,Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland.,ISEM, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Florian Altermatt
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland.,Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
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Švara V, Krauss M, Michalski SG, Altenburger R, Brack W, Luckenbach T. Chemical Pollution Levels in a River Explain Site-Specific Sensitivities to Micropollutants within a Genetically Homogeneous Population of Freshwater Amphipods. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:6087-6096. [PMID: 33852288 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c07839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic micropollutants alter chemical and ecological conditions of freshwater ecosystems and impact aquatic species that live along the pollution gradient of a river. Species sensitivity to micropollutants depends on the site-specific exposure; however, it remains unclear to what degree this sensitivity relates to the species' genetic structure. Here, we explored the relationship between the toxic sensitivity and genetic structure of the amphipod species Gammarus pulex (Linnaeus, 1758) along an organic micropollutant gradient in the Holtemme River in central Germany. We determined the river's site-specific micropollutant patterns and analyzed the genetic structure of G. pulex using nuclear and mitochondrial genetic markers. Furthermore, we examined the exposure sensitivities and bioaccumulation of the commonly detected insecticide imidacloprid in G. pulex from different sites. Our results show that throughout the Holtemme River, G. pulex forms a well-connected and homogeneous population with no observable pollution-related differences in the genetic structure. However, G. pulex from polluted sites responded more sensitively to imidacloprid; survival times for half of the amphipods were up to 54% shorter, the percentage of immobile individuals increased up to 65%, and the modeled imidacloprid depuration rate was lower in comparison to amphipods from non-polluted sites. Altogether, these results suggest that the level of sensitivity of G. pulex amphipods to micropollutants in the river depends on the degree of pollution: amphipods may thrive in food-rich but polluted habitats; yet, their sensitivity is increased when chronically exposed to organic micropollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vid Švara
- Department of Effect-Directed Analysis, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Environmental Toxicology, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Martin Krauss
- Department of Effect-Directed Analysis, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Stefan G Michalski
- Department of Community Ecology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Theodor-Lieser-Straße 4, 06120 Halle, Germany
| | - Rolf Altenburger
- Department of Bioanalytical Ecotoxicology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Ecosystem Analysis, Institute for Environmental Research (Biology V), RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Werner Brack
- Department of Effect-Directed Analysis, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Environmental Toxicology, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Till Luckenbach
- Department of Bioanalytical Ecotoxicology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
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Inostroza PA, Vera-Escalona I, Wild R, Norf H, Brauns M. Tandem Action of Natural and Chemical Stressors in Stream Ecosystems: Insights from a Population Genetic Perspective. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:7962-7971. [PMID: 29898597 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b01259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Agricultural and urban land use has dramatically increased over the last century and one consequence is the release of anthropogenic chemicals into aquatic ecosystems. One of the rarely studied consequences is the effect of land use change on internal concentrations of organic micropollutants (OMPs) in aquatic invertebrates and its effects on their genotype diversity. Here, we applied population genetic and internal concentrations of OMPs analyses to determine evolutionary implications of chemical pollution on Gammarus pulex populations from a natural and two agricultural streams. Along 14 consecutive months sampled, 26 different OMPs were quantified in G. pulex extracts with the highest number, concentration, and toxic pressure in the anthropogenically stressed stream ecosystems. Our results indicate distinct internal OMP profiles and changes in both genetic variation and genetic structure in streams affected by anthropogenic activity. Genetic variation was attributed to chemical pollution whereas changes in the genetic structure were attributed to environmental disturbances, such as changes in discharge in the impacted stream ecosystems, which worked both independently and in tandem. Finally, we conclude that human-impacted streams are subjected to severe alterations in their population genetic patterns compared to nonimpacted stream ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro A Inostroza
- Department of River Ecology , Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ , Brückstraße 3A , Magdeburg , Germany
| | - Iván Vera-Escalona
- Department of Biology , Dalhousie University , 1355 Oxford St. , Halifax , Canada
| | - Romy Wild
- Department of River Ecology , Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ , Brückstraße 3A , Magdeburg , Germany
| | - Helge Norf
- Department of River Ecology , Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ , Brückstraße 3A , Magdeburg , Germany
- Department of Aquatic Ecosystem Analysis and Management , Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ , Brückstraße 3A , Magdeburg , Germany
| | - Mario Brauns
- Department of River Ecology , Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ , Brückstraße 3A , Magdeburg , Germany
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Inostroza PA, Vera-Escalona I, Wicht AJ, Krauss M, Brack W, Norf H. Anthropogenic Stressors Shape Genetic Structure: Insights from a Model Freshwater Population along a Land Use Gradient. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2016; 50:11346-11356. [PMID: 27643810 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b04629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Environmental pollution including mutagens from wastewater effluents and discontinuity by man-made barriers are considered typical anthropogenic pressures on microevolutionary processes that are responsible for the loss of biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems. Here, we tested for the effects of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), weirs and other stressors on the invertebrate species Gammarus pulex at the population genetic level combining evolutionary ecotoxicology, body burden analysis and testing for exposure to mutagens. Exposure to chemical pollution alone and in combination with the presence of weirs resulted in a depression of allelic richness in native G. pulex populations. Our results suggest that the input of a mutagenic effluent from a WWTP resulted in a strong increase in private alleles over the affected populations. In addition, the presence of weirs along the river disrupted the migration across the river and thus the gene flow between G. pulex upstream and downstream. This study provides strong evidence that the assessment of genetic variation including private alleles together with the contamination of mutagenic and nonmutagenic chemical pollution offers new insights into the regulation of genetic population structure and highlights the relevance of emerging anthropogenic pressures at the genetic level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro A Inostroza
- Department of Effect-Directed Analysis, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ , Permoserstraße 15, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Ecosystem Analyses, RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Environmental Research , Worringerweg 1, Aachen, Germany
| | - Iván Vera-Escalona
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University , 1355 Oxford St., Halifax, Canada
| | - Anna-Jorina Wicht
- Department of Effect-Directed Analysis, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ , Permoserstraße 15, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Ecosystem Analyses, RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Environmental Research , Worringerweg 1, Aachen, Germany
| | - Martin Krauss
- Department of Effect-Directed Analysis, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ , Permoserstraße 15, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Werner Brack
- Department of Effect-Directed Analysis, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ , Permoserstraße 15, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Ecosystem Analyses, RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Environmental Research , Worringerweg 1, Aachen, Germany
| | - Helge Norf
- Department of Aquatic Ecosystem Analysis and Management, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ , Brückstraße 3A, Magdeburg, Germany
- Department of River Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ , Brückstraße 3A, Magdeburg, Germany
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Weiss M, Leese F. Widely distributed and regionally isolated! Drivers of genetic structure in Gammarus fossarum in a human-impacted landscape. BMC Evol Biol 2016; 16:153. [PMID: 27473498 PMCID: PMC4966747 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-016-0723-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2016] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The actual connectivity between populations of freshwater organisms is largely determined by species biology, but is also influenced by many area- and site-specific factors, such as water pollution and habitat fragmentation. Therefore, the prediction of effective gene flow, even for well-studied organisms, is difficult. The amphipod crustacean Gammarus fossarum is a key invertebrate in freshwater ecosystems and contains many cryptic species. One of these species is the broadly distributed G. fossarum clade 11 (type B). In this study, we tested for factors driving the genetic structure of G. fossarum clade 11 in a human-impacted landscape at local and regional scales. To determine population structure, we analyzed the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 1 (CO1) gene of 2,086 specimens from 54 sampling sites and microsatellite loci of 420 of these specimens from ten sites. Results We detected strong overall genetic differentiation between populations at regional and local scales with both independent marker systems, often even within few kilometers. Interestingly, we observed only a weak correlation of genetic distances with geographic distances or catchment boundaries. Testing for factors explaining the observed population structure revealed, that it was mostly the colonization history, which has influenced the structure rather than any of the chosen environmental factors. Whereas the number of in-stream barriers did not explain population differentiation, the few large water reservoirs in the catchment likely act as dispersal barriers. Conclusions We showed that populations of Gammarus fossarum clade 11 are strongly isolated even at local scales in the human-impacted region. The observed genetic structure was best explained by the effects of random genetic drift acting independently on isolated populations after historical colonization events. Genetic drift in isolated populations was probably further enhanced by anthropogenic impacts, as G. fossarum is sensitive to many anthropogenic stressors. These findings highlight the importance of small-scale genetic studies to determine barriers restricting gene flow to prevent further loss of genetic diversity and maintain intact freshwater ecosystems. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-016-0723-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Weiss
- Aquatic Ecosystem Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitaetsstrasse 5, Essen, D-45141, Germany.
| | - Florian Leese
- Aquatic Ecosystem Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitaetsstrasse 5, Essen, D-45141, Germany.,Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitaetsstrasse 2, Essen, D-45141, Germany
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Eisenring M, Altermatt F, Westram AM, Jokela J. Habitat requirements and ecological niche of two cryptic amphipod species at landscape and local scales. Ecosphere 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Eisenring
- Department of Aquatic Ecology Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology Eawag Überlandstrasse 133 CH‐8600 Dubendorf Switzerland
| | - Florian Altermatt
- Department of Aquatic Ecology Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology Eawag Überlandstrasse 133 CH‐8600 Dubendorf Switzerland
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies University of Zurich Winterthurerstrasse 190 CH‐8057 Zurich Switzerland
| | - Anja Marie Westram
- University of Sheffield, Animal and Plant Sciences Western Bank Sheffield S102TN UK
| | - Jukka Jokela
- Department of Aquatic Ecology Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology Eawag Überlandstrasse 133 CH‐8600 Dubendorf Switzerland
- Department of Environmental Systems Science Institute of Integrative Biology ETH Zurich Universitätstrasse 16 8092 Zurich Switzerland
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Spatial patterns of genetic diversity, community composition and occurrence of native and non-native amphipods in naturally replicated tributary streams. BMC Ecol 2016; 16:23. [PMID: 27118474 PMCID: PMC4847240 DOI: 10.1186/s12898-016-0079-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2016] [Accepted: 04/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Worldwide, natural communities are invaded by non-native species, with potentially devastating effects on the native communities. A large part of past research aimed at finding traits and characteristics of the invading species or the invaded community explaining observed invasions. Only recently, the focus shifted on the spatial patterns during invasions per se. Empirical data, however, are limited, as invasions are often unique incidences of a complex spatio-temporal process. In order to identify generalities of invasion patterns, we studied 13 naturally replicated tributary streams draining into Lake Constance, and studied the occurrence of native and non-native amphipods along linear transects from the stream outlets to the upstream headwater reaches. Results We found repeated spatial patterns of community composition and the occurrence of native and non-native amphipod species across two different years. Specifically, occurrence as well as abundance of two non-native amphipod species decreased from the stream outlets at the lake site towards upstream headwater reaches. Populations of the most common native amphipod species were largest at the uppermost headwater reaches. All populations of this native species, however, showed significant signals of recent genetic bottlenecks, irrespective of the stream position and occurrence of non-native species. Contrary to our expectations, this native species also showed no longitudinal genetic differentiation within individual tributaries as postulated for headwater versus outlet populations. Conclusions Our results indicate that invasions of river-systems may overall follow predictable patterns on the level of spatial distributions and community composition. However, effects of invading organisms on the genetic diversity and genetic structure of native populations observed at larger scales may not necessarily be directly reflected at the scale of smaller tributaries. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12898-016-0079-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Westram AM, Jokela J, Keller I. Hidden biodiversity in an ecologically important freshwater amphipod: differences in genetic structure between two cryptic species. PLoS One 2013; 8:e69576. [PMID: 23967060 PMCID: PMC3742660 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2013] [Accepted: 06/10/2013] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptic species, i.e. species that are morphologically hard to distinguish, have been detected repeatedly in various taxa and ecosystems. In order to evaluate the importance of this finding, we have to know in how far cryptic species differ in various aspects of their biology. The amphipod Gammarus fossarum is a key invertebrate in freshwater streams and contains several cryptic species. We examined the population genetic structure, genetic diversity and demographic history of two of them (type A and type B) using microsatellite markers and asked whether they show significant differences. We present results of population genetic analyses based on a total of 37 populations from the headwaters of two major European drainages, Rhine and Rhone. We found that, in both species, genetic diversity was geographically structured among and within drainages. For type A in the Rhine and type B in the Rhone, we detected significant patterns of isolation by distance. The increase of genetic differentiation with geographical distance, however, was much higher in type A than in type B. This result indicates substantial interspecific differences in population history and/or the extent of current gene flow between populations. In the Rhine, type B does not show evidence of isolation by distance, and population differentiation is relatively low across hundreds of kilometres. The majority of these populations also show signatures of recent bottlenecks. These patterns are consistent with a recent expansion of type B into the Rhine drainage. In summary, our results suggest considerable and previously unrecognized interspecific differences in the genetic structure of these cryptic keystone species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Marie Westram
- Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
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