4.2 | Factors influencing the genetic structures and
differentiation of Sinocyclocheilus populations in the central
Yunnan Basin
We found that altitudinal distances showed a stronger correlation
(r=0.492, p<0.01)(Fig. 4 ). In our analysis ofSinocyclocheilus population structure, individuals that were
collected from more similar altitudes tended to be more closely related
genetically. This suggested that altitudinal variation had a strong
effect on the genetic variation among Sinocyclocheiluspopulations. The results of our correlation analysis between the
differentiation times of Sinocyclocheilus and Fst indicated that
the river capture event appeared to have no discernable effects on the
distribution of Sinocyclocheilus populations in the Central
Yunnan Basin. This finding contrasts studies of other freshwater fish
taxa that have found river capture events to play a key role in shaping
the distributions of genetic lineages (e.g., Poissant et al., 2005;
Burridge et al., 2007). We contend that geographical isolation and the
unique ecological preferences of Sinocyclocheilus fishes were key
factors driving population differentiation.