Diadromy, diversity and divergence: implications for speciation processes in fishes

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Abstract
Ghoti papers Ghoti aims to serve as a forum for stimulating and pertinent ideas. Ghoti publishes succinct commentary and opinion that addresses important areas in fish and fisheries science. Ghoti contributions will be innovative and have a perspective that may lead to fresh and productive insight of concepts, issues and research agendas. All Ghoti contributions will be selected by the editors and peer reviewed. Etymology of Ghoti George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950), polymath, playwright, Nobel prize winner and the most prolific letter writer in history, was an advocate of English spelling reform. He was reportedly fond of pointing out its absurdities by proving that ‘fish’ could be spelt ‘ghoti’. That is: ‘gh’ as in ‘rough’, ‘o’ as in ‘women’ and ‘ti’ as in palatial. Diadromous migrations can have what seem to be opposing roles in the processes of developing genetic diversity between populations of a species, in terms of morphological and behavioural divergence and speciation. On the one hand, diadromy promotes gene flow among populations, and thereby hinders development of genetic structuring within species and prevents speciation across a species’ broad range. On the other hand, diadromy fosters dispersion and the invasion of new habitats and, when accompanied by the establishment of landlocked/freshwater limited populations, promotes speciation. Examples of both processes can be observed across the diversity of diadromous fishes.

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