Evidence for Selection on Mitochondrial OXPHOS Genes in the Mediterranean Killifish Aphanius fasciatus Valenciennes, 1821

Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) genes are a system subject to selection under determined environmental constraints despite a neutral evolution model that has long been hypothesized for the mitochondrial genome. In this study, the sequences of , , and OXPHOS genes were analyzed in six populations of the eurythermal and euryhaline killifish , to detect non-synonymous mutations leading to amino acid changes and to check whether selection acted on them using tests of recombination and selection. The results indicate a high and gene diversity and a high percentage of private haplotypes in all populations. In the Greek population, non-synonymous nucleotide substitutions were observed in the N-terminal region of and . Positively selected sites were also found. The information we obtained from the mitochondrial DNA sequences of adds to the growing data on selective pressure acting on mitochondrial DNA in non-model species. These results should be explored from the perspective of the local adaptation of eurythermal and euryhaline species and supported using experimental evidence to better understand the interplay between historical climatic events and local adaptation and how each of them contributes to shaping the genetic structure of this species.