Genetic Investigation of Four Beluga Sturgeon (<i>Huso huso</i>, L.) Broodstocks for its Reintroduction in the Po River Basin
The reintroduction of the extinct beluga sturgeon (<i>Huso huso</i> L.), an anadromous species with economic and traditional relevance, is a priority in next conservation strategies in Northern Italy. The EU-LIFE NATURA project aims to reintroduce the beluga sturgeon in the Po River basi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Environments |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3298/8/4/25 |
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| author | Caterina M. Antognazza Isabella Vanetti Vanessa De Santis Adriano Bellani Monica Di Francesco Cesare M. Puzzi Andrea G. Casoni Serena Zaccara |
| author_facet | Caterina M. Antognazza Isabella Vanetti Vanessa De Santis Adriano Bellani Monica Di Francesco Cesare M. Puzzi Andrea G. Casoni Serena Zaccara |
| author_sort | Caterina M. Antognazza |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The reintroduction of the extinct beluga sturgeon (<i>Huso huso</i> L.), an anadromous species with economic and traditional relevance, is a priority in next conservation strategies in Northern Italy. The EU-LIFE NATURA project aims to reintroduce the beluga sturgeon in the Po River basin through a captive breeding program. Critical requirements for the success of the program are river connectivity and knowledge of genetic diversity of the selected broodstocks to ensure self-sustainability of reintroduced populations. Here, the four broodstocks used for the reintroduction of beluga sturgeon have been genetically screened, genotyping 13 loci and sequencing mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b (Cyt b) gene and the entire mitochondrial DNA control region (D-Loop). The four broodstocks showed a medium-high level of nuclear genetic variability and the presence of two sub-populations, evidencing a total level of inbreeding coefficients able to sustain the good potential as future breeders. Mitochondrial analyses showed a genetic variability comparable to wild populations, further strengthening the positive potential of the investigated broodstock. Therefore, this study, showed how the degree of genetic diversity found within the four broodstocks used for <i>H. huso</i> reintroduction in the Po River basin could be suitable to ensure the success of the program, avoiding the inbreeding depression associated with founder effect and captive breeding. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:50:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6a493ed8ba0e4a9da46dc6f656065d8b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3298 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:50:20Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environments |
| spelling | doaj.art-6a493ed8ba0e4a9da46dc6f656065d8b2023-11-21T13:05:07ZengMDPI AGEnvironments2076-32982021-03-01842510.3390/environments8040025Genetic Investigation of Four Beluga Sturgeon (<i>Huso huso</i>, L.) Broodstocks for its Reintroduction in the Po River BasinCaterina M. Antognazza0Isabella Vanetti1Vanessa De Santis2Adriano Bellani3Monica Di Francesco4Cesare M. Puzzi5Andrea G. Casoni6Serena Zaccara7Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, Via H. Dunant 3, 21100 Varese, ItalyDepartment of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, Via H. Dunant 3, 21100 Varese, ItalyDepartment of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, Via H. Dunant 3, 21100 Varese, ItalyParco Lombardo del Ticino, via Isonzo, 1, 20013 Pontevecchio di Magenta, ItalyParco Lombardo del Ticino, via Isonzo, 1, 20013 Pontevecchio di Magenta, ItalyG.R.A.I.A. srl Gestione e Ricerca Ambientale Ittica Acque, Via Repubblica 1, 21020 Varano Borghi, ItalyG.R.A.I.A. srl Gestione e Ricerca Ambientale Ittica Acque, Via Repubblica 1, 21020 Varano Borghi, ItalyDepartment of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, Via H. Dunant 3, 21100 Varese, ItalyThe reintroduction of the extinct beluga sturgeon (<i>Huso huso</i> L.), an anadromous species with economic and traditional relevance, is a priority in next conservation strategies in Northern Italy. The EU-LIFE NATURA project aims to reintroduce the beluga sturgeon in the Po River basin through a captive breeding program. Critical requirements for the success of the program are river connectivity and knowledge of genetic diversity of the selected broodstocks to ensure self-sustainability of reintroduced populations. Here, the four broodstocks used for the reintroduction of beluga sturgeon have been genetically screened, genotyping 13 loci and sequencing mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b (Cyt b) gene and the entire mitochondrial DNA control region (D-Loop). The four broodstocks showed a medium-high level of nuclear genetic variability and the presence of two sub-populations, evidencing a total level of inbreeding coefficients able to sustain the good potential as future breeders. Mitochondrial analyses showed a genetic variability comparable to wild populations, further strengthening the positive potential of the investigated broodstock. Therefore, this study, showed how the degree of genetic diversity found within the four broodstocks used for <i>H. huso</i> reintroduction in the Po River basin could be suitable to ensure the success of the program, avoiding the inbreeding depression associated with founder effect and captive breeding.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3298/8/4/25anadromous fish<i>Huso huso</i>microsatellitemtDNAriver fragmentationriver management |
| spellingShingle | Caterina M. Antognazza Isabella Vanetti Vanessa De Santis Adriano Bellani Monica Di Francesco Cesare M. Puzzi Andrea G. Casoni Serena Zaccara Genetic Investigation of Four Beluga Sturgeon (<i>Huso huso</i>, L.) Broodstocks for its Reintroduction in the Po River Basin Environments anadromous fish <i>Huso huso</i> microsatellite mtDNA river fragmentation river management |
| title | Genetic Investigation of Four Beluga Sturgeon (<i>Huso huso</i>, L.) Broodstocks for its Reintroduction in the Po River Basin |
| title_full | Genetic Investigation of Four Beluga Sturgeon (<i>Huso huso</i>, L.) Broodstocks for its Reintroduction in the Po River Basin |
| title_fullStr | Genetic Investigation of Four Beluga Sturgeon (<i>Huso huso</i>, L.) Broodstocks for its Reintroduction in the Po River Basin |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genetic Investigation of Four Beluga Sturgeon (<i>Huso huso</i>, L.) Broodstocks for its Reintroduction in the Po River Basin |
| title_short | Genetic Investigation of Four Beluga Sturgeon (<i>Huso huso</i>, L.) Broodstocks for its Reintroduction in the Po River Basin |
| title_sort | genetic investigation of four beluga sturgeon i huso huso i l broodstocks for its reintroduction in the po river basin |
| topic | anadromous fish <i>Huso huso</i> microsatellite mtDNA river fragmentation river management |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3298/8/4/25 |
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