Allozymic variability and biogeographic relationships in twoLeuciscusspecies complexes (Cyprinidae) from southern Europe, with the rehabilitation of the genusTelestesBonaparte

Abstract

Genetic variability was assessed in eight populations belonging to the Leuciscus souffla complex and in nine populations of Leuciscus cephalus, sampled in France, Italy and Greece and in one population of Leuciscus lucumonis, endemic to Italy. Twenty-six enzymatic loci were analysed in order to clarify the genetic relationships, the patterns of colonisation of peri-Mediterranean area and the taxonomic positions. Results indicate a more ancient penetration of the Leuciscus souffia complex in southern Europe (possibly during the Messinian 'Lago Mare' phase of the Mediterranean), whereas L. cephalus and L. lucumonis seem to have quite recently reached these regions (about 1Myr). These evidences are discussed in relation to the two main proposed models of primary freshwater fishes colonisation of peri-Mediterranean area. In addition, the genetic distance suggests a generic separation between the two complexes. The genus Telestes Bonaparte, is rehabilitated to include members of the Leuciscus souffia complex which is represented by endemic taxa from southern France, Italy and westem Balkans.

Tyrrhenian basins of Ligury as a new peri-Mediterranean ichthyogeographic district? Population structure of Telestes muticellus (Osteichthyes, Cyprinidae), a primary freshwater fish

“…The phylogenetic split revealed by the phylogenetic analyses supports the evolutionary bifurcation between two monophyletic lineages defined by several authors as Telestes souffia in southern France and Telestes muticellus in the Italian peninsula (Ketmaier et al, 1998;Zardoya & Doadrio, 1998, 1999Machordom et al, 1999;Stefani et al, 2004;Zaccara et al, 2007). The genetic distance for cytochrome b was over 8%, congruent with data published by Zardoya & Doadrio (1999) which estimated the divergence time between the two sister species as approximately 5 Myr: data consistent with the control (Stefani et al, 2004;Zaccara et al, 2007).…”

“…The taxonomic structure of vairone has been recently debated, and it was included in the genus Telestes (Zardoya & Doadrio, 1998, 1999Ketmaier et al, 1998;Machordom et al, 1999), even if some authors have preferred to include the species within the genus Leuciscus (Salzburger et al, 2003;Salducci et al, 2004). In this phylogeographic study, vairone has been included within the genus Telestes, and thus the Italian populations are referred to as Telestes muticellus (Bonaparte 1837) when the transalpine vairone is named Telestes souffia (or Leuciscus souffia).…”

“…Its isolated populations, in combination with low dispersal abilities, are further characterised by a comparatively wide European distribution range that has been little altered by anthropogenic translocation, due to a lack of economic importance (Bianco, 1995a;Salzburger et al, 2003). Recently, according to its endangered condition and ecological structure, phylogeographic and phylogenetic studies have been performed for vairone populations from central and southern European basins (Kottelat, 1997;Ketmaier et al, 1998;Gilles et al, 1998a, b;Machordom et al, 1999;Salzburger et al, 2003;Ketmaier et al, 2004;Salducci et al, 2004;Stefani et al, 2004;Zaccara et al, 2007).…”

The salinity tolerance ofPseudophoxinus stymphalicus(Cyprinidae) andValencia letourneuxi(Valenciidae) from western Greece suggests a revision of the ecological categories of freshwater fishes

“…Therefore, the natural distribution of most species in this category is the biogeographic indicator of palaeogeographic or palaeoecological events, which involved the orogenesis of mountains and the history of their valley or river drainages. For this reason, they are valuable models for phylogeographic reconstruction and molecular clock calibration (Bianco 1990;Ketmaier et al 1998Ketmaier et al , 2003Ketmaier et al , 2005Machordom & Doadrio 2001;Durand et al 2004;Doadrio & Perdices 2005).…”

Phylogenetics of European cyprinids: insights from allozymes

“…This relationship is also reflected in the older taxonomy where L. souffia is called Chondrostoma rysela (Agassiz, 1835) (see also Kottelat, 1997). Thus, Ketmaier et al (1998) and Briolay et al (1998) suggested the use of the name Telestes souffia for Leuciscus souffia, already adopted in Zardoya & Doadrio (1998). Prior to any attempt to change the names of the genera more detailed studies are needed.…”