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Complex geographical variation patterns in Tropheus duboisi Marlier, 1959 (Perciformes, Cichlidae) from Lake Tanganyika

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Abstract

Intra-specific morphological variation in the cichlid Tropheus duboisi from 10 localities over its entire known distribution area along the central eastern and northern shore of Lake Tanganyika was investigated. This revealed significant differences between various populations that are geographically isolated. These morphological observations only partially correspond to the results of a haplotype network, based on mtDNA. In addition, a difference in the timing of the onset of the adult colour pattern was discovered for one isolated population. The occurrence of morphological intra-specific differentiation is discussed with respect to the basal position of T. duboisi within Tropheus as well as to the presumed morphological stasis of the genus.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank C. Gillardin, J.A.M. Raeymaekers, D. Muzumani Risasi, T. Mulimbwa N’sibula, F. Muterezi Bukinga, V. Nshombo Muderhwa, J. Mbirize Ndalozibwa, A. Avenant-Oldewage, A. Pariselle and S. Risch for assistance during sampling, S. Loix for assistance in the lab, F. Van den Broeck for software support and T. Musschoot for creating the map. We would also like to thank M. Parrent, M. Schreyen (Fishes of Burundi), G. Ntakimazi (Université du Burundi), Ad Konings and H. Büscher (University of Basel) for their help in preparing this manuscript. MVS is a PhD fellow of the Research Foundation—Flanders (FWO—Vlaanderen). Fieldwork was partly funded by a travel grant from the King Leopold III Fund for Nature Conservation and Exploration.

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  1. Maarten P. M. Vanhove

    Present address: Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37, Brno, Czech Republic

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vertebrates Section, Ichthyology, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Leuvensesteenweg 13, 3080, Tervuren, Belgium

    Maarten Van Steenberge, Maarten P. M. Vanhove & Jos Snoeks

  2. Laboratory of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Genomics, KU Leuven, Charles Debériotstraat 32, 3000, Louvain, Belgium

    Maarten Van Steenberge, Maarten P. M. Vanhove & Jos Snoeks

  3. Joint Experimental Molecular Unit, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Leuvensesteenweg 13, 3080, Tervuren, Belgium

    Floris C. Breman

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Guest editors: S. Koblmüller, R. C. Albertson, M. J. Genner, K. M. Sefc & T. Takahashi / Advances in Cichlid Research: Behavior, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

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Van Steenberge, M., Vanhove, M.P.M., Breman, F.C. et al. Complex geographical variation patterns in Tropheus duboisi Marlier, 1959 (Perciformes, Cichlidae) from Lake Tanganyika. Hydrobiologia 748, 39–60 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-013-1692-5

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