UK: Trout in mine-polluted rivers are genetically isolated, new study shows

Published 2024년 5월 30일

Tridge summary

A recent study published in Diversity and Distributions reveals that trout in rivers affected by metal pollution from old mines in the British Isles are genetically isolated from other trout, with reduced diversity and increased vulnerability to future threats. Conducted at 71 sites in Britain and Ireland by researchers from the universities of Exeter and Cardiff, the study discovered that trout in polluted rivers, while appearing healthy, have adapted to the metal pollution, leading to genetic divergence from the wider species. This isolation is exacerbated by physical barriers in rivers. The researchers suggest that reducing mine water runoff and removing physical barriers could help mitigate this genetic isolation.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

Trout living in rivers polluted by metal from old mines across the British Isles are genetically "isolated" from other trout, new research shows. The work appears in Diversity and Distributions.Researchers analyzed brown trout at 71 sites in Britain and Ireland, where many rivers contain metal washed out from disused mines.While trout in metal-polluted rivers appear healthy, they are genetically distinct—and a lack of diversity in these populations makes them vulnerable to future threats. By comparing the DNA of trout in rivers with and without metal pollution, the researchers found that metal-tolerant trout populations split from the wider species during periods of peak mining activity.The study, by the universities of Exeter and Cardiff, was carried out in four regions: west Wales, northeast England, southwest England and southeast Ireland."We found massively reduced genetic diversity in some of these trout populations inhabiting metal-impacted waters," said Professor Jamie ...

Source: Phys