UNCOVERING FISH FAUNAL EXCHANGES ACROSS GEORGIA'S WATERSHEDS: THE CURIOUS CASE OF THE BANDFIN SHINER**

Authors

Sydney P. Griffith*, University of North Georgia, Gainesville, GA 30566Follow
Sarah M. Holgate*, University of North Georgia, Gainesville, GA 30566Follow
Lillian R. Brenters*, University of North Georgia, Gainesville, GA 30566Follow
Michael E. Cagampan*, University of North Georgia, Gainesville, GA 30566Follow
Michael G. Kelling*, University of North Georgia, Gainesville, GA 30566Follow
Grace K. Vaughn*, University of North Georgia, Gainesville, GA 30566Follow
Rachel A. Perez-Udell, University of North Georgia, Gainesville, GA 30566Follow
Andrew T. Taylor, University of North Georgia, Gainesville, GA 30566Follow

Abstract

The southeastern United States is a hotspot for aquatic biodiversity. However, there is a lack of basic ecological and distributional data for the region’s fishes, which has resulted in a vague understanding of where species are native versus introduced. This uncertainty directly impacts conservation efforts. We aim to identify which populations should be protected to conserve native biodiversity in contrast to non-native populations. The objective of our project is to quantify patterns of shared ancestry with phylogenomic and population genomic analyses to infer faunal exchange mechanisms and general evolutionary relationships among watersheds. Our study focuses on the Bandfin Shiner (Coccotis zonistius), a fish presumed to be native throughout most of the Chattahoochee River system, but with occurrences in the headwaters of several adjacent systems where its origin is unknown. We sampled presumed native populations across the Chattahoochee River system as well as seven neighboring-but-disjunct watersheds. We extracted DNA from tissue samples, sequenced DNA with 3RAD, and identified and filtered important SNPs for analyses. We are developing an analytical workflow in R that incorporates phylogenomics to illustrate patterns of shared ancestry, along with population structure and metrics that quantify genetic diversity, differentiation, and gene flow. Our outputs will provide a better understanding of where fish faunal exchanges in the region may have occurred, including discerning native versus non-native population status.

Acknowledgements

This project was supported by a UNG Presidential Summer Incentive Award. Tissue collections were supplemented by gifts from the GAMNH and the AUMNH. We thank Tiffany Penland and the GADNR Non-Game Section for field support. We also thank Bryson Hilburn and the Freeman Lab at UGA for their insights and collaboration. Many UNG students contributed to field sampling efforts.

Recommended Citation

Griffith*, Sydney P.; Holgate*, Sarah M.; Brenters*, Lillian R.; Cagampan*, Michael E.; Kelling*, Michael G.; Vaughn*, Grace K.; Perez-Udell, Rachel A.; and Taylor, Andrew T. (2026) "UNCOVERING FISH FAUNAL EXCHANGES ACROSS GEORGIA'S WATERSHEDS: THE CURIOUS CASE OF THE BANDFIN SHINER**," Georgia Journal of Science, Vol. 84, No. 1, Article 25.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.gaacademy.org/gjs/vol84/iss1/25