Colonisation routes and demographic history of Chirostoma humboldtianum in the Central Mexican Plateau

" In the present study we evaluate the population structure and potential colonisation routes of the silverside Chirostoma humboldtianum through approximate bayesian computations. Six microsatellite loci were amplified in a total of 288 individuals from six different locations covering the complete geographic distribution of the species; additionally; two mitochondrial DNA markers, D loop control region and cytochrome b were amplified in a subset of 107 individuals. The results found with microsatellites allow recovering well‐structured populations that have experienced a drastic population reduction. On the other hand, mtDNA sequences showed a moderate phylogeographic structure with shared haplotypes between geographic localities and with signals of a slight increase in the effective population size. Finally, the ABC analysis performed with both datasets allow suggesting a west to east colonisation route for the species in Central Mexico. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved "