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Conservation of evolutionary patterns and processes in the Maloti minnow, Pseudobarbus quathlambae (Cyprinidae, Smiliogastrini), a narrow-range stream fish imperiled by water transfer scheme developments in the Lesotho Highlands

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Abstract

Pseudobarbus quathlambae (Barnard, 1938) is a cyprinid minnow with a disjunct distribution divided into tributaries of the Upper Orange River system in the Lesotho Highlands and the Mzimkhulu River system in KwaZulu Natal Province (KZN), South Africa. Recent records in the Mzimkhulu River system extended the species’ geographic range, and this could represent the last remnant population of this species in South Africa. However, its future existence is in doubt, because of continued threats to all the remnant populations by non-native fishes, and more recently by the building of large, interconnected dams as part of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP). One of these dams has directly affected the Mohale population in central Lesotho, which was the largest of the seven extant populations. Analysis of mitochondrial control region sequences (534 bp) revealed considerable genetic differentiation (2.3–6.4%) and geographic structuring amongst the remnant populations. The phylogenetic analysis identified three lineages within P. quathlambae: (i) one in KZN, (ii) a second one in eastern Lesotho and (iii) a third one in Mohale, central Lesotho. The deep genetic divergence and pronounced geographic structuring amongst the populations suggests a long period of isolation, indicating they represent unique evolutionary units.

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Data availability

All specimens used in this study are housed at the NRF-SAIAB ichthyological collection, which is a national facility and open to the public. Specimens for research can be requested by contacting the institution. All sequences resulting from this study were deposited in GenBank and will be made available following the acceptance of the manuscript.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the following persons for their contributions to this study: Denis Tweddle, Roger Bills, Mokitinyane Nthimo and Michael Cunningham helped to collect samples. Joelle van der Walt, Heidi Roos, Wayne Delport, Tyron Grant and Isa-Rita Russo assisted in the laboratory. Michael Cunningham and Wayne Delport provided analytical advice. Nkanyiso Ntuli, Sinazo Gqola and Nozipho Mkhabela, all from Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, for assistance with fieldwork in KZN, Tholoana Ntokwane from NRF-SAIAB for assistance with laboratory work. The Lesotho Highlands Developmental Authority Contract 1041 to the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity funded the research. Surveys in KZN were supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa under the Foundational Biodiversity Information Programme: Biodiversity surveys in priority inland areas (FBIP) grants (Grant Reference No. IBIP-BS13100251309). The authors acknowledge that opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed here are those of the authors and that the NRF accepts no liability whatsoever in this regard.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. NRF-South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Private Bag 1015, Makhanda (Grahamstown), 6140, South Africa

    Ernst R. Swartz, Pedro H. N. Bragança, Johannes L. Rall, Paul H. Skelton & Albert Chakona

  2. Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, 1 Peter Brown Drive, Montrose, 3202, South Africa

    Skhumbuzo P. Kubheka

  3. Department of Genetics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa

    Paulette Bloomer

  4. Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science, Rhodes University, Makhanda (Grahamstown), 6140, South Africa

    Albert Chakona

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ERS, AC, PHNB, PHS conceptualised the study; ERS, AC, JLR, SPK conducted field work; ERS, AC, PHNB analysed the data; ERS, AC drafted the manuscript; all authors revised and edited the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Albert Chakona.

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Swartz, E.R., Bragança, P.H.N., Rall, J.L. et al. Conservation of evolutionary patterns and processes in the Maloti minnow, Pseudobarbus quathlambae (Cyprinidae, Smiliogastrini), a narrow-range stream fish imperiled by water transfer scheme developments in the Lesotho Highlands. Hydrobiologia 850, 301–313 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-022-05069-3

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