Which factors are important in the clones formation and the role of parasite-host relations and niche partitioning in this process

Asexual organisms are very attractive models in biology. Our project is based on an excellent model organism (fish from genus Cobitis), where widespread asexuality and hybridization allow to test this process, tracking the causes of hybridisation and polyploidy and changes of individual biotypes due to external and internal factors. The combined evidence from trophic niche and habitat niche will provide the most comprehensive insight into the longstanding question whether hybridization generally provides the causal clue to initiate asexual reproduction and what is the role of the parasite - host relationships in this process.