Genetic and cytogenetic diversity in spined loaches (Cobitis) populations from the Cogâlnic River

Anatolie Marta; Daniel Kulik; Veaceslav Purcic; Nadejda Railean; Ion Toderaş; Karel Janko

doi:10.52673/18570461.26.1-80.05

Authors

Anatolie Marta Institute of Zoology, MSU https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4457-8838
Daniel Kulik Museum of Natural Sciences, University of Wroclaw https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1268-5409
Veaceslav Purcic Moldova State University https://orcid.org/0009-0008-0197-1593
Nadejda Railean Institute of Zoology, MSU https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7818-9200
Ion Toderaş Institute of Zoology, MSU https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6159-5325
Karel Janko Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7866-4937

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52673/18570461.26.1-80.05

Keywords:

Cobitis, hybridization, Polyploidy, clonal reproduction, cytogenetics, Microsatellites, Cogâlnic River

Abstract

This study describes a hybrid population of fish from the Cobitis taenia complex in the Cogâlnic River, characterized by the presence of diploid, triploid, and tetraploid individuals. Based on genotyping and karyotyping, the genetic structure and ploidy levels of the Cobitis population in the Cogâlnic River were characterized. The results indicate the presence of multiple hybrid biotypes within the same complex, in which tetraploids may arise through the occasional fertilization of clonal oocytes produced by triploid females. Tetraploid males are sterile and do not contribute genetically to the population. The study highlights the importance of recurrent hybridization and polyploidization in the evolution of the Cobitis taenia hybrid complex, offering new insights into the genetic diversity and mechanisms maintaining polyploid populations in the northwestern Black Sea basin.

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