Impact of Hydropower Development on the Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Schizothoracine Fishes on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Impact of Hydropower Development on the Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Schizothoracine Fishes on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 8 January 2026 V1 Latest version Share on Impact of Hydropower Development on the Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Schizothoracine Fishes on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Authors : zhe wang 0009-0009-8330-781X , hongze li , jianzhang Lv , hongwei zhang , huijuan chen , weiwei dong , yijun xie , and xiaogang wang [email protected] Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176786297.70024338/v1 89 views 36 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract [1]¿p#1 newcommands Hydropower development significantly impacts river connectivity and threatens the sustainability of freshwater fish populations. To evaluate its genetic consequences, we studied the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene in two economically important species, Schizothorax waltoni and Schizothorax macropogon, from three sites in the Yarlung Zangbo River, where large-scale hydropower projects have been implemented. A total of 576 individuals were analyzed, revealing high haplotype diversity (Hd > 0.5) but low to moderate nucleotide diversity (Pi < 0.007). Genetic differentiation was low (Fst < 0.01) among most populations, and Bayesian clustering revealed significant gene flow, particularly between previously isolated populations. Notably, the historical genetic differentiation between the Sangri (SR) and Mainling (ML) populations of S. waltoni, once separated by a natural waterfall barrier, has been eliminated since the operation of the Zangmu Dam, indicating rapid human-mediated genetic homogenization. Despite these changes, deep evolutionary lineages persist, highlighting the long-term biogeographic history of the species. These findings underscore the capacity of human activities to alter genetic structures rapidly, while preserving deeper evolutionary lineages. Our results provide valuable genetic insights for fishery management under hydropower development, advocating for genetic monitoring, habitat restoration, and lineage-based conservation strategies in plateau river ecosystems. Supplementary Material File (oik-12321-file001.pdf) Download 1.21 MB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 08 January 2026 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords conservation genetics genetic diversity hydropower development population structure schizothorax Authors Affiliations zhe wang 0009-0009-8330-781X Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute View all articles by this author hongze li Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute View all articles by this author jianzhang Lv Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute View all articles by this author hongwei zhang Yalong River Hydropower Development Company View all articles by this author huijuan chen Jiangsu Ocean University View all articles by this author weiwei dong Institute of Hydroecology Ministry of Water Resources and Chinese Academy of Sciences View all articles by this author yijun xie Leshan Ecological Environmental Protection Technology Company View all articles by this author xiaogang wang [email protected] Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 89 views 36 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation zhe wang, hongze li, jianzhang Lv, et al. Impact of Hydropower Development on the Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Schizothoracine Fishes on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Authorea . 08 January 2026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176786297.70024338/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . 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