Complexity of biogeographic pattern in the endangered crayfish Austropotamobius italicus in northern Italy: molecular insights of conservation concern

Abstract

The protection of freshwater biodiversity has become a priority task for conservation practices, as freshwater ecosystems host high levels of cryptic diversity, while also record similarly high rates of extinction. The Italian white-clawed crayfish Austropotamobius italicus is an endemic freshwater crustacean, threatened by several anthropogenic impacts such as habitat fragmentation, pollution, invasion of exotics, and climate change. Previous phylogenetic studies conducted in Italy pointed out a complex phylogeographic framework for the species, with four different subspecies currently recognized. Conservation efforts, particularly when involving restocking and reintroduction, require a detailed knowledge of their population genetics. In this study we describe the genetic structure of A. italicus populations in northern Italy (Lombardy Alpine foothills and northern Apennines) by using the informative mitochondrial marker cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, in order to assess their current evolutionary diversity and past phylogeographic history from a conservation perspective. Our results contribute to the mapping of the contact area among A. i. carsicus and A. i. carinthiacus in the Orobie Larian Prealps. More interestingly, we highlight the existence of two deeply differentiated evolutionary lineages within A. i. carsicus, showing alternative phylogeographic patterns and past demographic trends. We propose to consider these two clades as distinct molecular operational taxonomic units for the conservation of this endangered crayfish.

Italian Odonates in the Pandora’s Box: A Comprehensive DNA Barcoding Inventory Shows Taxonomic Warnings at the Holarctic Scale

“…During 2018-2019, a network of 20 professional and voluntary taxonomists (including the authors), involved in the "DNA barcoding Italian odonates" project, collected odonates in six macro-regions of Italy (see Figure 1). Such regions correspond to the main cradles of intraspecific genetic divergence previously identified for other taxa (e.g., Dapporto, 2010;Bernini et al, 2016;Wauters et al, 2017;Dufresnes et al, 2019;Scalercio et al, 2020).…”

Kerevitlerde Genetik Şifre Belirlemenin Önemi ve Kullanılan Yöntemler

“…Helms et al (2015) examined the genetic structure and morphology between three populations of 3 catchments of the drainage using mitochondrial COI gene sequences and geometric morphometry, and multiple populations of Cambarus englishi Hobbs and Halland Cambarus halli both of them endemic to the Tallapoosa River. Bernini et al (2016) described the genetic structure of A. italicus populations in northern Italy (Lombardy Alpine foothills and northern Apennines) by using the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, to assess the present evolutionary diversity and phylogenetic history from a conservation perspective. As a result they proposed to consider these two clades as distinct molecular operational taxonomic units for the conservation of this endangered crayfish.…”

Preliminary data on the distribution, morphology and genetics of white-clawed crayfish and on their ectosymbionts in Lunigiana (Tuscany, Italy)

“…We amplified a 1,173 bp-long portion of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) gene codifying for the subunit I of the Cytochrome Oxydase (COI) using primers FC_COI5'-F (5'-TTTGGCACTTGAGCTGGGATAG-3') and FC_COI3'-R (5'-GCATCTGGATAATCAGAATACC-3') (Bernini et al, 2016). PCRs were run in a MyCycler TM thermal cycler (Biorad, USA) with the following thermal profile: 3 min at 94°C, 35 cycles of 1 min at 94°C, 1 min at 55°C and 1 min at 72°C, followed by 7 min at 72°C.…”

“…Recently, based on a study carried out by Manganelli et al (2006), Crandall and De Grave (2017) referred to Italian white-clawed crayfish as Austropotamobius fulcisianus fulcisianus (Ninni, 1886). Nevertheless, in the present paper, in agreement with Fratini et al (2005) and Bernini et al (2016), we decided to use the more widespread binomial name A. italicus, as it is in line with the taxonomy in use in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database and, as such, with the phylogenetic reconstructions we have herein provided.…”

“…More in detail, four subspecies are comprised within A. italicus: A. i. carinthiacus, A. i. carsicus, A. i. italicus, and A. i. meridionalis (Fratini et al, 2005;Bernini et al, 2016). Furthermore, A. italicus and A. pallipes are included in the A. pallipes speciescomplex, which is classified as Endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources and has been included in the EU Habitats Directive Annexes II/V and in the Appendix III of the Convention of Bern (Füreder et al, 2010).…”