Phylogeography of Altai osmans fishes (Oreoleuciscus sp., Cyprinidae, Pisces) inferred from nucleotide variation of the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b gene

Abstract

In this study, analyses based on cytochrome b gene (Cyt-b) mtDNA sequences were undertaken to clarify phylogenetic and phylogeographical relationships among populations Oreoleuciscus sp. (Pisces: Cyprinidae) from Western Mongolia. Two major clusters, designated clusters A and B, and minor clusters were discriminated. Cluster A comprised specimens of Oreoleuciscus from the Valley of Lakes. The cluster B consists of two subclusters; one of them (B1) including populations Oreoleuciscus of the Hollow of the Big Lakes and lakes Big Altai Range. Second subclusters (B2) combines specimens of Oreoleuciscus from Hollow of the Lake Uvs, some isolated lakes of the North-Western Khangay and waterbodies of the Arctic Ocean Basin (Selenge and Orchon basins). On the basis of estimations of sizes genetic and time of a divergence of the revealed genetikal-geographical groups existence of three allopatric species of the within genera Oreoleuciscus is proved.