Species diversity and distribution of freshwater molluscs of Javakheti Highlands (Republic of Georgia)

Abstract

The diversity and distribution of freshwater molluscs is poorly studied in the Republic of Georgia, due to the scarcity of field studies during the last 50 years. Here, we present the results of the first concerted investigation of freshwater mollusc biodiversity in the Javakheti Highlands, in the southern, mountainous region of Georgia. In total, we were able to collect 22 species from 42 sampling localities, including different kinds of freshwater habitats. Amongst the 22 collected species, 12 were recorded for the first time from Javakheti. From the newly-recorded species, Bathyomphalus contortus is a new country record, whose identity is supported by 16S rRNA sequence data.

Species diversity and DNA barcode library of freshwater Molluscs of South Caucasus

“…(1)) and 36 sequences mined from GenBank (11 sequences of Ancylus spp. ( Bikashvili et al 2021 ), 23 sequences of Hydrobiidae spp. ( Grego et al 2017 , Grego et al 2020 ) and a single sequence of Melanopsis mingrelica ( Neiber and Glaubrecht 2019 ) and Radix euphratica ( Aksenova et al 2019 ).…”

“…The check-list of freshwater molluscs species for the South Caucasus or any separate country within it is more than 50 years old and completely outdated ( Zhadin 1952 , Javelidze 1973 , Akramowski 1976 ). While a number of papers have appeared during the last three decades providing information on the taxonomy and systematics of separate taxa (given below), only three articles have been published reporting the field research-based inventory results of all freshwater molluscs of a particular area: for Sevan Lake in Armenia ( Mashkova et al 2018 ), Javakheti region of Georgia - Bikashvili et al (2021) and Kazbegi Municipality in Georgia - Neiber et al (2021) . Thus, it is clear that the current knowledge of freshwater molluscs species diversity and distribution in the South Caucasus region remains far from being comprehensive.…”

“…A good example is the Caucasus biodiversity hot-spot where, in spite of the recent advancements (e.g. Vinarski et al 2014 , Grego et al 2020 , Chertoprud et al 2020 , Chertoprud et al 2021 , Bikashvili et al 2021 , Neiber et al 2021 ), the knowledge about the diversity and distribution of freshwater molluscs is still far from being comprehensive ( Mumladze et al 2019 , Mumladze et al 2020 ). Most probably this is due to the absence of local taxonomic expertise during the last 50 years.…”

“…Perhaps more importantly, DNA barcoding triggers even non-taxonomists and the young generation to put effort into biodiversity investigation ( Packer et al 2009 , Ellis et al 2010 , Ebach 2011 ). For instance, in Georgia, a number of research projects have been conducted very recently investigating the freshwater biodiversity, including or exclusively being based on DNA barcoding approaches conducted by experienced and amateur scientists ( Grego et al 2020 , Epitashvili et al 2020 , Japoshvili et al 2020 , Bikashvili et al 2021 ). In addition, DNA barcoding (and in particular environmental DNA or eDNA meta-barcoding) is a promising tool in fast, non-invasive and cost-effective means for biodiversity inventory/monitoring ( Thomsen et al 2012 , Carew et al 2013 , Thomsen and Willerslev 2015 ).…”