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"Evolution of fitness components in the evolving radiation of "sharpfin" sailfin silversides", funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Picture: Spawning
Telmatherina sarasinorum in Lake Matano, Sulawesi
The adaptive radiation of sailfin silversides (Telmatherinidae) in Sulawesi's ancient Malili Lakes serves as model system to test hypotheses on the mechanisms driving speciation processes. Sailfin silversides are closely related to the well known rainbow fishes of Australia and New Guinea, and developed a comparatively small, but highly interesting radiation in the highland lakes of Central Sulawesi. In the last years we have done baseline work including phylogenetics, population genetics, morphometrics and ecological characterization, and used these data to infer the likely causal roots of speciation. Important results are that "roundfin"
Telmatherina of isolated Lake Matano fulfill the criteria for a sympatric mode of speciation, that gene flow occurs among morphologically defined species, and that divergence in at least two clades of the radiation follows ecological selection pressure.
Current research focuses on individual fitness consequences of morphological adaptation in Lake Matano's "sharpfin"
Telmatherina, based on the idea that adaptation follows "rugged landscapes" of ecological opportunities. This approach is based on a comprehensive sample of individualized fishes, which are characterized in terms of various morphological traits, population structure, habitat use and trophic ecology.
Currently involved at ZFMK:
Jobst Pfaender
, Regina Lützenkirchen, Mario Milanovic, Stefanie Müller,
Fabian Herder
Establishing a voucher-based barcoding system for European freshwater fish, molluscs and mayflies. European freshwaters harbour rich faunas of fishes, mollusks ans mayflies. Together with
Jörg Freyhof
&
Michael Monaghan
(IGB, Berlin),
Matthias Glaubrecht
&
Thomas von Rintelen
(MfN, Berlin), and
Bernhard Misof
(ZFMK), we establish a voucher-based DNA barcode reference system for these groups within the geographical borders of Europe, ranging from Portugal to the Ural. This project is funded by the
Leibniz-Gemeinschaft
(SAW). Have a look at the
FREDIE website
!
Currently involved at ZFMK:
Matthias Geiger
,
Jörg Freyhof
,
Simone Chapuis
, Simon Walter,
Fabian Herder
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German Barcode of Life. Package 1.7, Monitoring Freshwater Macrofauna:
Currently involved at ZFMK:
Matthias Geiger
,
Ivar Steinmann
,
Simone Chapuis
, Simon Walter,
Jonas Astrin
,
Fabian Herder
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Taxonomy and patterns of diversity in freshwater fishes of the "Wallacea" region in Indonesia
Picture:
Oryzias hadiatyae endemic to Lake Masapi, Sulawesi (Herder & Chapuis, 2010)
The species diversity of freshwater fishes in the "Wallacea" region remains poorly studied. Actual taxonomic projects focus on ricefishes, sailfin silversides, halfbeaks and gobies from Sulawesi and the Moluccas.
Currently involved at ZFMK:
Friedrich-Wilhelm Miesen, Sebastian Hüllen, Jan Huylebrouck
,
Fabian Herder
