Extensive Multi-Species Hybridization Between Leuciscidae Minnow Species

Anthropogenic disturbances can disrupt ecosystems and alter species population dynamics. Interspecific hybridization is common between genetically related organisms, especially once reproductive barriers such as spatial isolation have been removed. We used genotyping-by-sequencing data to assess outcomes of hybridization between several Leuciscidae minnow species and to identify to what extent land use type and environmental variables influence the frequency of hybridization. We found that both two-species and multi-species hybridization was widespread; hybrids were sampled at all 25 sampling sites and made up almost 30% of all individuals sampled. While most species hybridised with at least one other sampled species, the amount of hybridization was variable. We used logistic regression to estimate the influence of anthropogenic disturbance on hybridization, and found weak relationships between hybridization and environmental factors. This research improves our understanding of hybridization dynamics in species-rich clades like the Leuciscidae with low reproductive isolation, and points to the need for additional work to better understand predictors of hybridization in multi-species hybrid zones.