Trout living in rivers polluted by metal from old mines across the British Isles are genetically “isolated” from other trout, new research shows.
Trout living in rivers polluted by metal from old mines across the British Isles are genetically “isolated” from other trout, new research shows.
Researchers analysed brown trout at 71 sites in Britain and Ireland, where many rivers contain metal washed out from disused mines.
While trout in metal-polluted rivers appear healthy, they are genetically distinct – and a lack of diversity in these populations makes them vulnerable to future threats.
By comparing the DNA of trout in rivers with and without metal pollution, the researchers found that metal-tolerant trout populations split from the wider species during periods of peak mining activity.
Read more at University of Exeter
Image: A brown trout. (Credit Daniel Osmond)
