# Analysis of genetic diversity among three Triplophysa tenuis populations by RAD-seq

## TL;DR

This study uses RAD-seq to analyze genetic diversity in three populations of Triplophysa tenuis in the Shule River Basin, revealing differences that could aid conservation efforts.

## Contribution

The study identifies 29 polymorphic SSR markers and reveals distinct genetic origins of T. tenuis populations in the Shule River Basin.

## Key findings

- The Yumen and Changma populations of T. tenuis share a common origin, while Qiaowan is genetically distinct.
- SSRC1 is the most polymorphic locus with 24 alleles detected.
- Most SSR markers are in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, indicating stable genetic diversity.

## Abstract

To investigate the genetic diversity of Triplophysa tenuis in the Shule River Basin of Gansu province, three populations were sequenced via RAD-seq technology. Twenty-nine microsatellite (SSR) markers with polymorphisms were finally screened to access the genetic diversity among the populations, of which 15 had high polymorphisms. The quantity of the alleles detected in the three populations of T. tenuis varied from 2 to 24. The locus with the most alleles was SSRC1, which had 24 alleles. Among the 29 SSRs, the range of effective allele number, observed heterozygosity, expected heterozygosity, and polymorphic information content were 1.246–16.615, 0.222–1, 0.198–0.940, and 0.178–0.937, respectively. Most of the identified loci were in the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. Analysis of the population structure revealed that the Yumen and Changma populations shared the same origin, while the Qiaowan population was different from them. The developed SSR markers discovered in this study will contribute to the conservation research on T. tenuis and the conservation of the fishery resources of the Shule River, providing scientific guidance for the development and utilization of T. tenuis resources and environmental protection.