Laboratory of Fish Genetics, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Libechov, Czech Republic
Tomáš Dvořák
Laboratory of Fish Genetics, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Libechov, Czech Republic; Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
Jörg Freyhof
Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany
Maurice Kottelat
Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
Papanin Institute of Biology of Inland Waters, Russian Academy of Sciences, Borok, Russian Federation; A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation
Alexander Golubtsov
A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation
Vlastimil Šlechta
Laboratory of Fish Genetics, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Libechov, Czech Republic
Eurasia has undergone substantial tectonic, geological, and climatic changes throughout the Cenozoic, primarily associated with tectonic plate collisions and a global cooling trend. The evolution of present-day biodiversity unfolded in this dynamic environment, characterised by intricate interactions of abiotic factors. However, comprehensive, large-scale reconstructions illustrating the extent of these influences are lacking. We reconstructed the evolutionary history of the freshwater fish family Nemacheilidae across Eurasia and spanning most of the Cenozoic on the base of 471 specimens representing 279 species and 37 genera plus outgroup samples. Molecular phylogeny using six genes uncovered six major clades within the family, along with numerous unresolved taxonomic issues. Dating of cladogenetic events and ancestral range estimation traced the origin of Nemacheilidae to Indochina around 48 mya. Subsequently, one branch of Nemacheilidae colonised eastern, central, and northern Asia, as well as Europe, while another branch expanded into the Burmese region, the Indian subcontinent, the Near East, and northeast Africa. These expansions were facilitated by tectonic connections, favourable climatic conditions, and orogenic processes. Conversely, aridification emerged as the primary cause of extinction events. Our study marks the first comprehensive reconstruction of the evolution of Eurasian freshwater biodiversity on a continental scale and across deep geological time.
