Ecological, physiological, and behavioral aspects of marine fish speciation

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K16217
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 45030:Biodiversity and systematics-related
• Research Institution: Kitasato University (2023); Tokai University (2019-2022)
• Principal Investigator: Muto Nozomu 北里大学, 海洋生命科学部, 講師 (50724267)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 生殖隔離 / 種分化 / ゲノム / 耳石 / 安定同位体

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We aimed to elucidate isolating mechanisms underlying marine fish speciation by using the genus Sebastes as a model. We demonstrated that bathymetric habitat segregation contributes to the incomplete isolation between two closely related Sebastes species. We also observed genetic incompatibility between more distantly related species, suggesting that various isolating mechanisms operate at different points along this genus's speciation continuum. Finally, our results suggest that hybridization has played a significant role in the diversification of the group, possibly leading to the formation of distinct species.

Free Research Field

魚類の多様性科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は，海水魚の生物多様性が創出・維持されるしくみの一端を解明した．とりわけ，近縁種間の種の境界が生態的差異によって維持されているとの結果は，人為的要因による気候変動が海洋生物の生息環境を大きく改変しつつある中で重要な意味をもつ．環境の改変が種の多様性の喪失にもつながりうることを示唆するからである．