Publications by authors named "Antonia G P Ford"
Article Synopsis
- Cichlid fishes of the genus Oreochromis, or tilapia, are crucial for inland fisheries and aquaculture, but hybridization with non-native species threatens local biodiversity.
- Researchers studied hybridization patterns in tilapia by analyzing the genomes of 575 individuals from 23 species in Tanzania, where both ancient and recent hybridization occurs.
- Their findings reveal significant historical gene flow and the hybrid speciation of a specific species, highlighting concerns for conservation and the future of aquaculture practices.
Aquaculture
February 2022
Article Synopsis
- - Cichlid fish are vital for tilapia aquaculture and fisheries, but distinguishing between species is challenging due to morphological similarities and hybridization with non-native populations in Africa.
- - A new genotyping panel using SNPs has been developed to accurately identify species and hybrids in tilapia, proving to be more effective than traditional methods like microsatellites and phenotype classification.
- - Case studies reveal that introduced tilapia species are increasingly becoming established in the wild, posing risks to native species, highlighting the need for better broodstock management to conserve biodiversity.
Article Synopsis
- Invasive Nile tilapia are hybridizing with native Korogwe tilapia in southern Tanzania, threatening unique genetic resources.
- Research shows that southern Korogwe tilapia populations are genetically distinct from those in northern Tanzania, having diverged around 140,000 years ago.
- Findings indicate the need for conservation efforts to protect these unique and vulnerable fish populations from hybridization and genetic dilution.
Article Synopsis
- The study explores cardiac development in a non-model fish species, revealing gene expression patterns that are similar to well-known vertebrate models but also distinct in certain aspects.
- Researchers observed significant vascularization in the fish's yolk prior to hatching and identified key cardiac transcription factors that are involved in other developmental processes like blood, limbs, and muscle formation.
- The findings suggest that this fish exhibits conserved molecular mechanisms of development, which may provide insights into how species adapt to extreme environmental conditions, especially in light of climate change.
Mol Phylogenet Evol
July 2019
Article Synopsis
- Cichlids have diversified significantly across Africa, particularly in rivers and lakes, with a focus on the economically important oreochromine cichlids, or tilapia, which have unique adaptations to soda environments.
- This study presents a comprehensive DNA analysis of the Oreochromis genus and closely related Alcolapia, revealing discordance between nuclear and mitochondrial DNA, which may suggest complex evolutionary histories.
- The research indicates that adaptation to harsh conditions has occurred multiple times in Oreochromis, with extreme adaptations likely originating once, leading to a taxonomic revision that places Alcolapia as a subgenus of Oreochromis.
Article Synopsis
- From the 1950s, East Africa has implemented aquaculture and fisheries programs focused on introduced species, though documentation in Tanzania has been lacking.
- A study conducted between 2011 and 2017 identified tilapia species across 123 locations, revealing 14 native taxa and three species, including one exotic (blue-spotted tilapia) that have expanded their range.
- Habitat modeling suggests that suitable conditions for these introduced species will persist and possibly expand due to changing climate projections, aiding in biodiversity management and informing future policies on aquaculture.
Article Synopsis
- Hybridization between invasive tilapia species and indigenous Wami tilapia in Tanzania poses significant genetic and morphological risks, as indicated by studies conducted at Mindu Reservoir and Kidatu.
- The research utilized genetic screening and morphological assessments and found hybrids displaying a diverse range of physical traits that overlap with both parent species.
- The findings suggest that the introduction of invasive tilapia has greatly affected the gene pool and traits of indigenous tilapia populations, leading to recommendations for caution in further invasive species introductions, especially when no clear benefits exist.
Article Synopsis
- - Ecomorphological differentiation plays an important role in adaptive radiations, showing that species tend to specialize and expand their ecological niches when they diverge in new habitats!*
- The study focuses on oreochromine cichlid fishes (Alcolapia) that adapted to herbivorous diets after colonizing an isolated lake, highlighting the correlation between their physical traits and the environment they occupy!*
- Findings indicate that while these fish exhibit significant ecological and morphological diversity, their genetic differences are limited, suggesting a rapid adaptation to the lake environment from a generalist ancestor.*
Article Synopsis
- Recent adaptive radiations in isolated systems, like the Alcolapia cichlid fish from East Africa's soda lakes, help clarify the mechanisms behind biological diversity due to fewer complicating factors.
- A study of 96 fish revealed genetic mixing among species in Lake Natron, with significant admixture occurring in populations of closely related species despite geographic separations.
- Findings show low overall genetic differentiation among Alcolapia species, but evidence of adaptive divergence is indicated by certain genomic markers that suggest ongoing evolution and incomplete reproductive isolation.
