Genetic population structure of Japanese freshwater crab, Geothelphusa dehaani species complex using genome wide SNPs

Abstract The Japanese freshwater crab Geothelphusa dehaani species complex is distributed widely across the Japanese Archipelago. Despite its suggested high genetic and morphological diversity, key aspects such as nuclear DNA (nuDNA) population structure and relationship between body color patterns...

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Main Authors: Taiga Kunishima, Kento Takata, Kanto Nishikawa, Kodai Gibu, Miyuki Nishijima, Akira Iguchi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-08085-0
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author Taiga Kunishima
Kento Takata
Kanto Nishikawa
Kodai Gibu
Miyuki Nishijima
Akira Iguchi
author_facet Taiga Kunishima
Kento Takata
Kanto Nishikawa
Kodai Gibu
Miyuki Nishijima
Akira Iguchi
author_sort Taiga Kunishima
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The Japanese freshwater crab Geothelphusa dehaani species complex is distributed widely across the Japanese Archipelago. Despite its suggested high genetic and morphological diversity, key aspects such as nuclear DNA (nuDNA) population structure and relationship between body color patterns and genetic populations remain unclear. To address these gaps, this study analyzed genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in nuDNA and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) markers in samples from Hokkaido to the Tokara Islands, Japan. ADMIXTURE analysis identified five distinct populations with significant geographic boundaries. These populations exhibited unique geographical patterns, spanning across islands and enclave distribution, indicating that G. dehaani populations have been shaped by complex factors, including sea level changes and volcanic activity. Regional body color variations partially aligned with SNP clades. Further, combining body color with collection locality data could help identify the specimen populations. Contrasting patterns between mtDNA and nuDNA suggest historical gene flow and introgression, emphasizing the need for caution when interpreting earlier phylogenetic studies based on combined mtDNA and nuDNA sequences. Our findings provide a foundational baseline for future research into the taxonomy, phylogeny, and population dynamics of the G. dehaani species complex, advancing our understanding of its evolutionary history.
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issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
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spelling doaj-art-b11c0c18439449f58fbf9dccd69465262025-08-20T03:42:29ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111310.1038/s41598-025-08085-0Genetic population structure of Japanese freshwater crab, Geothelphusa dehaani species complex using genome wide SNPsTaiga Kunishima0Kento Takata1Kanto Nishikawa2Kodai Gibu3Miyuki Nishijima4Akira Iguchi5Wakayama Prefectural Museum of Natural HistoryWakayama Prefectural Museum of Natural HistoryGraduate School of Human and Environmental Studies, Kyoto UniversityDepartment of Ecosystem Studies, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of TokyoGeological Survey of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)Geological Survey of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)Abstract The Japanese freshwater crab Geothelphusa dehaani species complex is distributed widely across the Japanese Archipelago. Despite its suggested high genetic and morphological diversity, key aspects such as nuclear DNA (nuDNA) population structure and relationship between body color patterns and genetic populations remain unclear. To address these gaps, this study analyzed genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in nuDNA and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) markers in samples from Hokkaido to the Tokara Islands, Japan. ADMIXTURE analysis identified five distinct populations with significant geographic boundaries. These populations exhibited unique geographical patterns, spanning across islands and enclave distribution, indicating that G. dehaani populations have been shaped by complex factors, including sea level changes and volcanic activity. Regional body color variations partially aligned with SNP clades. Further, combining body color with collection locality data could help identify the specimen populations. Contrasting patterns between mtDNA and nuDNA suggest historical gene flow and introgression, emphasizing the need for caution when interpreting earlier phylogenetic studies based on combined mtDNA and nuDNA sequences. Our findings provide a foundational baseline for future research into the taxonomy, phylogeny, and population dynamics of the G. dehaani species complex, advancing our understanding of its evolutionary history.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-08085-0PhylogeographyMIG-seqColor polymorphismCrustaceanJapanese IslandsDemographic history
spellingShingle Taiga Kunishima
Kento Takata
Kanto Nishikawa
Kodai Gibu
Miyuki Nishijima
Akira Iguchi
Genetic population structure of Japanese freshwater crab, Geothelphusa dehaani species complex using genome wide SNPs
Scientific Reports
Phylogeography
MIG-seq
Color polymorphism
Crustacean
Japanese Islands
Demographic history
title Genetic population structure of Japanese freshwater crab, Geothelphusa dehaani species complex using genome wide SNPs
title_full Genetic population structure of Japanese freshwater crab, Geothelphusa dehaani species complex using genome wide SNPs
title_fullStr Genetic population structure of Japanese freshwater crab, Geothelphusa dehaani species complex using genome wide SNPs
title_full_unstemmed Genetic population structure of Japanese freshwater crab, Geothelphusa dehaani species complex using genome wide SNPs
title_short Genetic population structure of Japanese freshwater crab, Geothelphusa dehaani species complex using genome wide SNPs
title_sort genetic population structure of japanese freshwater crab geothelphusa dehaani species complex using genome wide snps
topic Phylogeography
MIG-seq
Color polymorphism
Crustacean
Japanese Islands
Demographic history
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-08085-0
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