Ecotype formation in the European anchovy fuelled by structural variants of different origins and genetic interactions with a southern lineage

The formation of ecotypes is shaped by mechanisms that reduce gene flow through complex interactions between ecological, historical, and genomic factors. In the European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus), marine and coastal ecotypes have been identified in the North-East Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea, yet the genomic basis of their divergence remains unclear. Here, we present the first genome-scale analysis of this species complex, integrating whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and RAD-seq data from populations across its distribution range. In addition to the marine and coastal ecotypes, we identify a previously undetected lineage which is present in southern Morocco, the Canary Islands and even in South Africa. This southern Atlantic lineage exhibits a gradient of admixture with northern populations near the Atlantic-Mediterranean transition zone. Genomic differentiation landscapes reveal large regions of high linkage disequilibrium, likely corresponding to thirteen structural variants (SVs) segregating within or between the lineages. Notably, three of the six SVs contributing to the gene flow barrier between northern ecotypes originated in the southern lineage, supporting a partially shared evolutionary history between the coastal ecotype and the southern lineage. Our findings suggest that anchovy ecotype divergence has been shaped by a combination of ancient structural variation, admixture, and local adaptation. This study highlights how SVs that arose between geographically isolated lineages can act as key genetic elements in ecotype formation, reinforcing reproductive isolation through distinct evolutionary pathways.