Microevolution of the noble crayfish (Astacus astacus) in the Southern Balkan Peninsula
Abstract Background The noble crayfish (Astacus astacus) displays a complex historical and contemporary genetic status in Europe. The species divergence has been shaped by geological events (i.e. Pleistocene glaciations) and humanly induced impacts (i.e. translocations, pollution, etc.) on its popul...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2017-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Evolutionary Biology |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12862-017-0971-6 |
| _version_ | 1819127597341081600 |
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| author | Anastasia Laggis Athanasios D. Baxevanis Alexandra Charalampidou Stefania Maniatsi Alexander Triantafyllidis Theodore J. Abatzopoulos |
| author_facet | Anastasia Laggis Athanasios D. Baxevanis Alexandra Charalampidou Stefania Maniatsi Alexander Triantafyllidis Theodore J. Abatzopoulos |
| author_sort | Anastasia Laggis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The noble crayfish (Astacus astacus) displays a complex historical and contemporary genetic status in Europe. The species divergence has been shaped by geological events (i.e. Pleistocene glaciations) and humanly induced impacts (i.e. translocations, pollution, etc.) on its populations due to species commercial value and its niche degradation. Until now, limited genetic information has been procured for the Balkan area and especially for the southernmost distribution of this species (i.e. Greece). It is well known that the rich habitat diversity of the Balkan Peninsula offers suitable conditions for genetically diversified populations. Thus, the present manuscript revisits the phylogenetic relationships of the noble crayfish in Europe and identifies the genetic make-up and the biogeographical patterns of the species in its southern range limit. Results Mitochondrial markers (i.e. COI and 16S) were used in order to elucidate the genetic structure and diversity of the noble crayfish in Europe. Two of the six European haplotypic lineages, were found exclusively in Greece. These two lineages exhibited greater haplotypic richness when compared with the rest four (of “Central European” origin) while they showed high genetic diversity. Divergence time analysis identified that the majority of this divergence was captured through Pleistocene, suggesting a southern glacial refugium (Greece, southern Balkans). Furthermore, six microsatellite markers were used in order to define the factors affecting the genetic structure and demographic history of the species in Greece. The population structure analysis revealed six to nine genetic clusters and eight putative genetic barriers. Evidence of bottleneck effects in the last ~5000 years (due to climatic and geological events and human activities) is also afforded. Findings from several other research fields (e.g. life sciences, geology or even archaeology) have been utilized to perceive the genetic make-up of the noble crayfish. Conclusions The southernmost part of Balkans has played a major role as a glacial refugium for A. astacus. Such refugia have served as centres of expansion to northern regions. Recent history of the noble crayfish in southern Balkans reveals the influence of environmental (climate, geology and/or topology) and anthropogenic factors. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T08:14:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0fc131ffe8e74064b982510f89a19151 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2148 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T08:14:27Z |
| publishDate | 2017-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Evolutionary Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-0fc131ffe8e74064b982510f89a191512022-12-21T18:32:56ZengBMCBMC Evolutionary Biology1471-21482017-05-0117111910.1186/s12862-017-0971-6Microevolution of the noble crayfish (Astacus astacus) in the Southern Balkan PeninsulaAnastasia Laggis0Athanasios D. Baxevanis1Alexandra Charalampidou2Stefania Maniatsi3Alexander Triantafyllidis4Theodore J. Abatzopoulos5Department of Genetics, Development and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of ThessalonikiDepartment of Genetics, Development and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of ThessalonikiScientific Computing Office, Information Technology (IT) Center, School of Sciences, Aristotle University of ThessalonikiDepartment of Genetics, Development and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of ThessalonikiDepartment of Genetics, Development and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of ThessalonikiDepartment of Genetics, Development and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of ThessalonikiAbstract Background The noble crayfish (Astacus astacus) displays a complex historical and contemporary genetic status in Europe. The species divergence has been shaped by geological events (i.e. Pleistocene glaciations) and humanly induced impacts (i.e. translocations, pollution, etc.) on its populations due to species commercial value and its niche degradation. Until now, limited genetic information has been procured for the Balkan area and especially for the southernmost distribution of this species (i.e. Greece). It is well known that the rich habitat diversity of the Balkan Peninsula offers suitable conditions for genetically diversified populations. Thus, the present manuscript revisits the phylogenetic relationships of the noble crayfish in Europe and identifies the genetic make-up and the biogeographical patterns of the species in its southern range limit. Results Mitochondrial markers (i.e. COI and 16S) were used in order to elucidate the genetic structure and diversity of the noble crayfish in Europe. Two of the six European haplotypic lineages, were found exclusively in Greece. These two lineages exhibited greater haplotypic richness when compared with the rest four (of “Central European” origin) while they showed high genetic diversity. Divergence time analysis identified that the majority of this divergence was captured through Pleistocene, suggesting a southern glacial refugium (Greece, southern Balkans). Furthermore, six microsatellite markers were used in order to define the factors affecting the genetic structure and demographic history of the species in Greece. The population structure analysis revealed six to nine genetic clusters and eight putative genetic barriers. Evidence of bottleneck effects in the last ~5000 years (due to climatic and geological events and human activities) is also afforded. Findings from several other research fields (e.g. life sciences, geology or even archaeology) have been utilized to perceive the genetic make-up of the noble crayfish. Conclusions The southernmost part of Balkans has played a major role as a glacial refugium for A. astacus. Such refugia have served as centres of expansion to northern regions. Recent history of the noble crayfish in southern Balkans reveals the influence of environmental (climate, geology and/or topology) and anthropogenic factors.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12862-017-0971-6Noble crayfishmtDNA16SCOIMicrosatellitesEurope |
| spellingShingle | Anastasia Laggis Athanasios D. Baxevanis Alexandra Charalampidou Stefania Maniatsi Alexander Triantafyllidis Theodore J. Abatzopoulos Microevolution of the noble crayfish (Astacus astacus) in the Southern Balkan Peninsula BMC Evolutionary Biology Noble crayfish mtDNA 16S COI Microsatellites Europe |
| title | Microevolution of the noble crayfish (Astacus astacus) in the Southern Balkan Peninsula |
| title_full | Microevolution of the noble crayfish (Astacus astacus) in the Southern Balkan Peninsula |
| title_fullStr | Microevolution of the noble crayfish (Astacus astacus) in the Southern Balkan Peninsula |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microevolution of the noble crayfish (Astacus astacus) in the Southern Balkan Peninsula |
| title_short | Microevolution of the noble crayfish (Astacus astacus) in the Southern Balkan Peninsula |
| title_sort | microevolution of the noble crayfish astacus astacus in the southern balkan peninsula |
| topic | Noble crayfish mtDNA 16S COI Microsatellites Europe |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12862-017-0971-6 |
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