Population structure and diversity of Dalmatian barbelgudgeon (Aulopyge huegelii Heckel, 1943; Cypriniformes, Actinopteri) in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina

Aulopyge huegelli Heckel, 1943 (Cypriniformes, Actinopteri) ili oštrulja endem je vodotoka Jadranskog slijeva. Naseljava krške rijeke i jezera u Hrvatskoj i Bosni i Hercegovini. Zbog malog i rascjepkanog areala oštrulja se smatra ugroženom na lokalnoj i globalnoj razini. Istraživanja na ovoj vrsti su malobrojna, a molekularni podaci oskudni. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je pomoći opisivanju strukture populacija oštrulje u Hrvatskoj i Bosni i Hercegovini analizom gena za citokrom b i mitohondrijske kontrolne regije. Uzorci su prikupljeni na lokalitetima diljem cijelog areala rasprostranjenosti ove vrste. U laboratoriju je izolirana ukupna genomska DNA, a lančanom reakcijom polimerazom umnožen je gen citokrom b i dio mitohondrijske kontrolne regije. Uspješnost reakcija provjerena je elektroforezom na agaroznom gelu, a na uspješno izoliranim uzorcima izvršeno je sekvenciranje. Filogenetske rekonstrukcije populacija provedene su metodama maksimalne parsimonije, najveće vjerojatnosti te susjednog sparivanja. Metodom Bayesove inferencije procijenjen je protok gena između populacija te efektivne veličine populacija. Rezultati pokazuju prisutnost 13 haplotipova citokroma b i 11 haplotipova kontrolne regije na istraživanim lokalitetima. Vrsta pokazuje umjerenu genetičku raznolikost i slabu genetičku strukturiranost. Protok gena između populacija nije ustanovljen. Efektivne veličine populacija su male. Kao evolucijski značajne jedinice utvrđene su populacije na lokalitetima Roški slap na Krki, Ruda na Cetini te rijeka Šujica i vodotoci oko Tomislavgrada u Duvanjskom i Livanjskom polju.Aulopyge huegelli Heckel, 1943 (Cypriniformes, Actinopterygii) or dalmation barbelgudgeon is endemic to the Adriatic Basin. It inhabits karst rivers and lakes in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Due to its small and fragmented distribution area it is considered endangered locally and globally. Research on this species is limited, and molecular data are scarce. The aim of this study was to help describe the structure of dalmation barbelgudgeon populations in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina by analysing genes for cytochrome b and mitochondrial control region. Samples were collected at sites along the entire distribution area of this species. Total genomic DNA was isolated in the laboratory, the cytochrome b gene and part of the mitochondrial control region were amplified by polymerase chain reaction. The success of the reactions was checked by agarose gel electrophoresis, and sequencing was performed on successfully isolated samples. Phylogenetic reconstructions of populations were obtained by the methods of maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and median joining. Bayesian inference method was used to estimate gene flow between populations and the effective size of populations. The results show the presence of 13 cytochrome b haplotypes and 11 control region haplotypes at research sites. The species shows moderate genetic diversity and weak genetic structuring. Gene flow between populations has not been detected. Effective population sizes are small. The populations of Roški slap on the Krka river, Ruda on the Cetina river and Šujica river with the watercourses around Tomislavgrad in Duvanjsko and Livanjsko fields have been identified as evolutionarily significant units