10 páginas, 5 figuras, 3 tablas.Background: Multiple transitions to obligate parthenogenesis have occurred in the Daphnia pulex complex in North
America. These newly formed asexual lineages are differentially distributed being found predominantly at high latitudes.
This conforms to the rule of geographical parthenogenesis postulating prevalence of asexuals at high latitudes and
altitudes. While the reproductive mode of high-latitude populations is relatively well studied, little is known about the
reproduction mode in high altitudes. This study aimed to assess the reproductive mode of Daphnia pulicaria, a species of
the D. pulex complex, from high altitude lakes in Europe.
Methodology/Principal Findings: Variation at eight microsatellite loci revealed that D. pulicaria from the High Tatra
Mountains (HTM) had low genotype richness and showed excess of heterozygotes and significant deviations from Hardy-
Weinberg expectations, and was thus congruent with reproduction by obligate parthenogenesis. By contrast, populations
from the Pyrenees (Pyr) were generally in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and had higher genotypic richness, suggesting that
they are cyclic parthenogens. Four lakes from lowland areas (LLaP) had populations with an uncertain or mixed breeding
mode. All D. pulicaria had mtDNA ND5 haplotypes of the European D. pulicaria lineage. Pyr were distinct from LLaP and
HTM at the ND5 gene. By contrast, HTM shared two haplotypes with LLaP and one with Pyr. Principal Coordinate Analysis of
the microsatellite data revealed clear genetic differentiation into three groups. HTM isolates were intermediate to Pyr and
LLaP, congruent with a hybrid origin.
Conclusion/Significance: Inferred transitions to obligate parthenogenesis have occurred only in HTM, most likely as a result
of hybridizations. In contrast to North American populations, these transitions do not appear to involve meiosis suppressor
genes and have not been accompanied by polyploidy. The absence of obligate parthenogenesis in Pyr, an environment
highly similar to the HTM, may be due to the lack of opportunities for hybridization.Peer reviewe
