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Genetic Diversity and Phylogenetic Analysis of Five Cultrinae Species in West Dongting Lake Based on Cytb and COI Genes
by
Yihan Ma
1,†,
Jia Pan
1,†,
Haiqi Li
2,
Peng Liu
3,
Weikun Zeng
3,
Boyong Peng
3,
Bin Wang
1,
Zhongyuan Shen
1,2,* and
Xiaoyang Mo
1,2,4,* 1
Vertebrate Zoology Laboratory, College of Life Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
2
Yuelushan Laboratory Aquatic Variety Breeding Centre, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
3
Hunan West Dongting Lake National Nature Reserve, Hanshou 415900, China
4
College of Biological and Food Engineering, Huaihua University, Huaihua 418000, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Biology 2025, 14(12), 1802; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14121802
Submission received: 18 November 2025
/
Revised: 13 December 2025
/
Accepted: 17 December 2025
/
Published: 18 December 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Evolutionary Biology)
Simple Summary
Genetic diversity and phylogenetic analyses offer valuable insights into species status. In this study, we examined the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of five Cultrinae species in West Dongting Lake using Cytb and COI gene markers after the implementation of a ten-year fishing ban. Our aim was to enhance the understanding of genetic diversity within the genera Culter and Cultrichthys. The findings provide preliminary yet encouraging genetic evidence that the fishing ban may be contributing positively to the recovery of key fish populations in the region. This study establishes an important baseline for future monitoring and underscores the value of evidence-based conservation measures.
Abstract
Aiming to understand the genetic diversity of Culter and Cultrichthys fishes in West Dongting Lake following the implementation of fishing ban, this study analyzed the genetic diversity and phylogeny of five Cultrinae species based on mitochondrial Cytb and COI gene sequences. For Cytb, 50 haplotypes were identified with high overall genetic diversity (Hd = 0.954, π = 0.04765, K = 53.506). Similarly, COI yielded 48 haplotypes (Hd = 0.950, π = 0.03251, K = 36.414). Interspecific comparisons revealed that Culter mongolicus and Culter alburnus exhibited the highest genetic diversity, while Cultrichthys erythropterus showed the lowest. Demographic inferences from neutrality tests and mismatch distribution analyses differed between markers. Based on Cytb, populations of C. erythropterus and C. oxycephaloides appeared to be at neutrality, whereas C. mongolicus, C. alburnus, and C. dabryi significantly deviated, suggesting historical expansion. Mismatch distributions supported recent expansion in C. mongolicus and C. dabryi. In contrast, COI-based neutrality tests indicated expansion in C. mongolicus, C. alburnus, and C. dabryi, with mismatch results confirming this signal for C. dabryi. The negative values of Tajima’s D and Fu’s Fs observed across all five species reflect an accumulation of low-frequency alleles within populations, which may indicate a recent rapid demographic recovery. These findings provide genetic evidence that the genetic diversity of these Cultrinae species has likely been recovering since the fishing ban took effect on 1 January 2020. Further conservation strategies are therefore recommended to promote population recovery and enhance genetic diversity.
Keywords:
genetic diversity; phylogeny; Cultrinae; Western Dongting Lake
