Management of gene diversity in the endemic killifish Aphanius iberus: revising Operational Conservation Units

Abstract

Abstract – Conservation of genetic diversity within species requires effective management techniques. To study the spatial structure of the killifish Aphanius iberus and to improve ongoing conservation practices, we used genetic approaches to assess the genetic structure of this endemic Iberian species. Twenty locations were analysed by allozyme electrophoresis and allelic variation was detected at 11 of 17 loci examined. Results of our study enabled us to redefine its conservation policy based on Operational Conservation Units (OCUs), which were proposed in 1996. The new OCUs recognise the genetic isolation of some marshland populations (FST = 0.247) and incorporate reintroductions that occurred over the last 10 years. We also propose that the status of A. iberus in the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species be changed from data deficient to endangered. Our work exemplifies how temporal genetic monitoring of populations can be a powerful tool to improve conservation programmes.