Ancient connection among rivers and watersheds revealed from the evolutionary history of the genus Telestes (Actinopterygii ; Cypriniformes)

The genus Telestes Bonaparte, 1837 comprises primary freshwater, obligate riverine fishes that are adapted to moderately cold waters. Its distribution has not been influenced by human alteration, so it represents suitable model for investigating evolution of European freshwater fish taxa. The phylogenetic relationships of Telestes with other genera inside the Leuciscinae subfamily have already been investigated and several geological events have been proposed to shaped its evolutionary history (in particular the Alpine orogenesis, the uplifting of the Dinarides, the Messinian salinity crisis and the Pleistocene glaciations). However, due to the lack of the comprehensive and detailed investigation of the Telestes phylogeography and evolution throughout its distribution range, there are still some controversies regarding its evolutionary course. In order to reveal differences in genetic structure of each Telestes species and to discover details of their evolutionary paths, we have analyzed samples of all Telestes species throughout their distribution ranges. Phylogenetic reconstruction based on several molecular markers was conducted using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference, whereas Nested clade analysis was carried out in order to make inferences about the processes underlying phylogeographic structure. The obtained results revealed interesting evolutionary history of the genus that affirms complex geological history of the Dinaride region. On the other hand, differences in intraspecific genetic structure enabled detection of local events that shaped the unique evolutionary course of each species and created differences between them.