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Résumé :
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The present study investigated the relationship between dispersal ability and phenotypic/genetic variation in three Capoeta species from northern Iran: C. buhsei, C. razii, and C. alborzensis. Although these fish species inhabit overlapping geographic ranges with similar environmental preferences, they differ markedly in dispersal capacity. To explore the basis of these disparities, we examined both morphometric and genetic variation. Phenotypic variation was assessed using two-dimensional landmark-based morphometrics, while genetic variation was evaluated through nucleotide diversity in 16S rRNA gene sequences. Despite its broad dispersal capacity, C. buhsei exhibited the lowest overall genetic variation, as indicated by a low turbulence index. However, within its populations, individuals with higher genetic variation also showed greater phenotypic differentiation, suggesting a potential for phenotype-based adaptation. These findings indicate that phenotypic variation may serve as a useful predictor of dispersal capacity across populations. Furthermore, the reduced genetic variation in C. buhsei, despite its wide dispersal ability, points to the influence of additional factors such as historical evolutionary processes, including genetic bottlenecks that may have shaped its current genetic structure.
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