Phenotypic diversity of brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) during the late Upper Pleistocene and Early Holocene in the glacial refugium of Iberia

Human populations have relied on fish for food for thousands of years, as evidenced in numerous Palaeolithic archaeological sites across Europe. In this paper, we investigate past populations of brown trout ( Salmo trutta L. ) along the Bay of Biscay coast before, during, and after the Last Glacial Maximum and compare their phenotypic diversity with modern populations. A total of 270 salmonid vertebrae from 11 archaeological sites in Spain and France were analysed, which span c. 30 to 9 kyr cal B.P. Species identification, combining ZooMS analyses with vertebral body size, confirmed 219 specimens as brown trout, and we present a model for salmonid species identification based on vertebral size. Stable isotope analyses of carbon and nitrogen reveal a continuum of habitat use patterns. After testing multiple published regression models for body length estimation in brown trout, we develop a novel linear regression model alongside a protocol for age estimation. Overall, the analysis of body size, age and migratory ecotype demonstrates that the phenotypic diversity of brown trout populations during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition is comparable to that of modern populations, reinforcing the role of the Iberian glacial refugium in maintaining diversity during the Last Glacial Maximum. The finding of large freshwater trout alongside sea trout in human-occupied archaeological sites further suggests the exploitation of both riverine and marine fish resources by human populations. • We integrated ZooMS, stable isotope analysis (δ 13 C, δ 15 N), morphometric, and sclerochronological analysis to study Upper Palaeolithic brown trout ecology. • Anadromous, resident and intermediate brown trout were identified. • The phenotypic diversity of ancient brown trout is comparable to that of modern populations in Europe.

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Journal
Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology
Published
2025-06-02
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2025.113073
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Isotope Analysis in Ecology
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.72

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article

Phenotypic diversity of brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) during the late Upper Pleistocene and Early Holocene in the glacial refugium of Iberia

Jean‐Marc Roussel, Eduardo Berganza, José Ramón Arribas, Michel Barbaza et al.
1 citations
Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology
Isotope Analysis in Ecology
1.72
article

Phenotypic diversity of brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) during the late Upper Pleistocene and Early Holocene in the glacial refugium of Iberia

Jean‐Marc Roussel, Eduardo Berganza, José Ramón Arribas, Michel Barbaza, Ana B. Marín‐Arroyo, Lawrence Guy Straus, Alejandro Lucía, Françoise Diendere, Rey-Méndez Manuel, Pamela Jerome, Pablo Arias, Lange Frederic, Riquier Camille, Simonet Aurélien, Joëlle Chat, Morales-Muñiz Arturo, Tissot Laurence, Stéphane Glise, Ambra D'Aurelio
article en
1 citations

Abstract

Human populations have relied on fish for food for thousands of years, as evidenced in numerous Palaeolithic archaeological sites across Europe. In this paper, we investigate past populations of brown trout ( Salmo trutta L. ) along the Bay of Biscay coast before, during, and after the Last Glacial Maximum and compare their phenotypic diversity with modern populations. A total of 270 salmonid vertebrae from 11 archaeological sites in Spain and France were analysed, which span c. 30 to 9 kyr cal B.P. Species identification, combining ZooMS analyses with vertebral body size, confirmed 219 specimens as brown trout, and we present a model for salmonid species identification based on vertebral size. Stable isotope analyses of carbon and nitrogen reveal a continuum of habitat use patterns. After testing multiple published regression models for body length estimation in brown trout, we develop a novel linear regression model alongside a protocol for age estimation. Overall, the analysis of body size, age and migratory ecotype demonstrates that the phenotypic diversity of brown trout populations during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition is comparable to that of modern populations, reinforcing the role of the Iberian glacial refugium in maintaining diversity during the Last Glacial Maximum. The finding of large freshwater trout alongside sea trout in human-occupied archaeological sites further suggests the exploitation of both riverine and marine fish resources by human populations. • We integrated ZooMS, stable isotope analysis (δ 13 C, δ 15 N), morphometric, and sclerochronological analysis to study Upper Palaeolithic brown trout ecology. • Anadromous, resident and intermediate brown trout were identified. • The phenotypic diversity of ancient brown trout is comparable to that of modern populations in Europe.

Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology PalaeoecologyVol. 675
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), Universidad de Cantabria (ES), Ministry of Culture (IN), Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour (FR), Ifremer (FR), University of New Mexico (US), Ayuntamiento de Bilbao (ES), Ecosystèmes, Biodiversité, Evolution (FR), Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (FR), Ayuntamiento de San Sebastián (ES), Association pour l'Utilisation du Rein Artificiel dans la région Lyonnaise (FR), Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute (ES), Nutrition Metabolism Aquaculture (FR), Ministère de la Culture (DZ), Électricité de France (France) (FR), Travaux et Recherches Archéologiques sur les Cultures, les Espaces et les Sociétés (FR), Laboratoire d'Hydraulique Saint-Venant (FR), Université Toulouse - Jean Jaurès (FR), Ecologie Comportementale et Biologie des Populations de Poissons (FR), L'Institut Agro (FR), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (ES)
Recherches Avancées sur la Biologie de l’Arbre et les Ecosystèmes Forestiers, European Commission, Agence Nationale de la Recherche, Électricité de France, Electricité de France, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
Life below water
Openalex Percentile: Top 17%
Isotope Analysis in Ecology
1.72
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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