Genetic diversity of noble crayfish Astacus astacus (Linnaeus, 1758) populations in Croatia

Plemeniti ili riječni rak Astacus astacus (Linnaeus, 1758) jedna je od četiri autohtone europske vrste slatkovodnih rakova koje obitavaju u Hrvatskoj. Osim što ima ključnu ulogu u slatkovodnim ekosustavima, ova vrsta smatra se i bioindikatorom kvalitete vode. Razni negativni pritisci poput antropogenih translokacija, stranih invazivnih vrsta slatkovodnih rakova i račje kuge kojima je plemeniti rak izložen narušavaju njegovu prirodnu genetsku strukturu i rasprostranjenost. Cilj ovog rada bio je istražiti genetsku raznolikosti i strukturu 12 hrvatskih populacija plemenitog raka pomoću 15 mikrosatelitnih lokusa i napraviti filogenetsku rekonstrukciju pomoću mitohondrijskih gena za podjedinicu I citokrom c oksidaze i 16S ribosomsku RNA. Analize mikrosatelitnih lokusa otkrile su visoku razinu genetske raznolikosti i diferencijacije hrvatskih populacija, a filogenetičkim analizama utvrđena je pripadnost spomenutih populacija dvama, već otprije otkrivenim, mitohondrijskim evolucijskim linijama. Rezultati ovog istraživanja doprinijet će izradi konzervacijskih planova za ovu ranjivu i zaštićenu vrstu.The noble crayfish or broad-fingered crayfish Astacus astacus (Linnaeus, 1758) is one of the four indigenous European species of freshwater crayfish that inhabit Croatia. In addition to playing a key role in freshwater ecosystems, this species is also considered a bioindicator of water quality. Various negative pressures such as anthropogenic translocations, alien invasive freshwater crayfish species and crayfish plague to which noble crayfish is exposed disrupt its natural genetic structure and distribution. The aim of this study was to evaluate the genetic diversity and structure of 12 Croatian noble crayfish populations using 15 microsatellite loci and phylogenetic reconstruction using mitochondrial genes for subunit I cytochrome c oxidase and 16S ribosomal RNA. Analyzes of microsatellite loci revealed a high level of genetic diversity and differentiation of Croatian populations, and phylogenetic analyzes determined the affiliation of these populations to two previously described mitochondrial evolutionary lines. The results of this research will contribute to the development of conservation plans for this vulnerable and protected species