title: Genetic fragmentation in India's third longest river system, the Narmada.
abstract: India's third longest river, the Narmada, is studied here for the potential effects on native fish populations of river fragmentation due to various barriers including dams and a waterfall. The species we studied include a cyprinid fish, Catla catla, and a mastacembelid, Mastacembelus armatus, both of which are found in the Narmada. Our goal was to use DNA sequence information from the D-loop region of the mitochondrial DNA to explore how this fragmentation could impact the genetic structure of these fish populations. Our results clearly show that these barriers can contribute to the fragmentation of the genetic structure of these fish communities, Furthermore, these barriers enhance the effects of natural isolation by distance and the asymmetry of dispersal flows. This may be a slow process, but it can create significant isolation and result in genetic disparity. In particular, populations furthest upstream having low migration rates could be even more subject to genetic impoverishment. This study serves as a first report of its kind for a river system on the Indian subcontinent. The results of this study also emphasize the need for appropriate attention towards the creation of fish passages across the dams and weirs that could help in maintaining biodiversity.
authors.affiliation: Paul Hebert Centre for DNA Barcoding and Biodiversity Studies, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad, 431004 India ; Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Hawaii, 1960 East-West Rd, Honolulu, HI 96822 USA.
authors.forename: Gulab D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Khedkar
authors.affiliation: Paul Hebert Centre for DNA Barcoding and Biodiversity Studies, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad, 431004 India.
authors.forename: Rahul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jamdade
authors.affiliation: Paul Hebert Centre for DNA Barcoding and Biodiversity Studies, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad, 431004 India.
authors.forename: Amol
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kalyankar
authors.affiliation: Paul Hebert Centre for DNA Barcoding and Biodiversity Studies, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad, 431004 India.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tiknaik
authors.affiliation: College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI USA.
authors.forename: Tetsuzan Benny
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Ron
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Hawaii, 1960 East-West Rd, Honolulu, HI 96822 USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Haymer
keywords: Dams; Dloop; Falls; Fish; Genetic fragmentation; Migration; The Narmada river