River capture and freshwater biological evolution: A review of galaxiid fish vicariance

Abstract

Geological processes can strongly affect the distribution and diversification of freshwater-limited species. In particular, a combination of geological and biological data has suggested that Earth history processes can drive vicariant isolation and speciation in non-migratory freshwater fishes. Here, we synthesise recently published geological and freshwater phylogeographic data to illustrate that changes in river drainage geometry are important drivers of galaxiid diversification, both in New Zealand and elsewhere. Major river capture events have led to the isolation and divergence of unique and geographically-restricted lineages, including taxa that are now of prime conservation concern. The parallel phylogeographic effects of drainage shifts have been verified by observations of concordant patterns in co-distributed species. Broadly, this study highlights the dynamic interplay between physical and biological processes in geologically active settings.