Abstract
Variation of 15 nuclear allozyme genes and a 708 bp fragment of DNA sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxi- dase subunit I (COI) gene were surveyed in a population of a hoverfly species, Merodon desuturinus Vuji¸ , Simi¸ & Radenkovi¸ , 1995 (Diptera, Syrphidae), endemic to the Balkan Peninsula. Based on phylogeography and taxonomy, Merodon desuturinus is of special interest from a biogeographical and conservation perspective. Characterization and determination of genetic relationships between M. desuturinus and taxa of the M. aureus, M. avidus, and M. ruficornis groups on the Balkan Peninsula were estimated based on molecular markers (allozymes and COI sequences). We observed that the mean number of alleles per allozyme locus was 1.1, frequency of polymorphic loci 0.067, and heterozygotes were absent. Our results showed an extremely low genetic variability in the M. desuturinus population sampled. We suggest that this taxon calls for a conservation management plan, as it is likely a vulner- able and threatened taxon, an endemic, spatially divided species and represents a unique genetic unit on the Balkan Peninsula.
Highlights
A high taxon diversity and high levels of endemism highlight the unique biota of the Balkan Peninsula within the Mediterranean hotspot (e.g. Crivelli & Maitland, 1995; Quézel & Médail, 1995)
Alleles common to M. desuturinus and the other Merodon taxa analysed were: Aatb; Gpii; Gpij
Low genetic diversity is associated with reduced reproduction and survival (Frankham et al, 2002)
Summary
A high taxon diversity and high levels of endemism highlight the unique biota of the Balkan Peninsula within the Mediterranean hotspot (e.g. Crivelli & Maitland, 1995; Quézel & Médail, 1995). Conservation genetics has a primary focus on genetic diversity due to its importance in the maintenance of adaptive evolutionary potential (long term impact) and of reproductive fitness (short term impact) (Frankham, 2003). Reduction in genetic diversity is associated with inbreeding that contributes to extinction risk in the long-term. The mechanisms responsible for a reduction in heterozygosity include many factors such as historical and current population size, population bottlenecks, breeding system, natural selection, different mutation rates and number of migrants, which may all affect the observed level of genetic diversity The mechanisms responsible for a reduction in heterozygosity include many factors such as historical and current population size, population bottlenecks, breeding system, natural selection, different mutation rates and number of migrants, which may all affect the observed level of genetic diversity (e.g. Frankham, 2003)
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