Spatial sorting caused by downstream dispersal: implication for morphological evolution in isolated populations of fat minnow inhabiting small streams flowing through terraced rice paddies

The evolutionary forces arising from differential dispersal are known as "spatial sorting," distinguishing them from natural selection arising from differential survival or differential reproductive success. Spatial sorting is often considered to be transient because it is offset by the return of dispersers in many cases. However, in riverine systems, spatial sorting by downstream dispersal can be cumulative in habitats upstream of migration barriers such as weirs or falls, which can block the return of the dispersers. Terraced rice paddies are often found on steep mountain slopes in Japan and often incorporate small streams with numerous migration barriers. This study investigated the morphological features of fat minnow, Rhynchocypris oxycephalus jouyi (Cyprinidae), inhabiting above-barrier habitats of the small streams flowing through flood-prone terraced rice paddies and examined their function via a mark-recapture experiment. Although this study did not reveal a consistent pattern across all local populations, some above-barrier populations were characterized by individuals with a thinner caudal peduncle, thinner body, and longer ventral caudal fin lobes than those in neighbouring mainstream populations. A mark-recapture experiment during minor flooding showed that a thinner caudal peduncle and deeper body helped fat minnow avoid downstream dispersal and ascend a small step, and suggested that a longer ventral caudal fin lobe was important for ascending. These results suggest that the caudal morphologies of some above-barrier populations avoid or reduce the risk of downstream dispersal, supporting the idea that spatial sorting shapes functional traits, enhancing the spatial persistence of individuals in upstream habitats.