Arctic charr evolved distinct metabolism after 100 years in Lake Allos
A study of Arctic charr introduced to a new lake 100 years ago reveals that the fish developed distinct metabolic traits in a relatively short timeframe. Researchers found that these changes were driven by rapid adaptation to the new environment.
Why it matters
This research challenges long-held assumptions about the speed of evolutionary adaptation in cold-water species.
In 1924, Arctic charr from Lake Geneva were introduced into Lake Allos. A hundred years later, scientists found that their descendants had developed different metabolic responses, even when raised under the same laboratory conditions.A new study by researchers from Université Savoie Mont Blanc-INRAE in France found that two populations of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) developed distinct physiological traits after being separated for just 100 years. Published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the study shows that cold-water freshwater fish can adapt to new environments much faster than scientists once believed.Evolution is often thought to take thousands or even millions of years.
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