PRELIMINARY RESULTS REGARDING PHYLOGENY OF THE NOBLE CRAYFISH (DECAPODA, ASTACIDAE, „ASTACUS ASTACUS“) IN SERBIA

Abstract

The noble crayfish is one of the three autochthonous species that inhabit the freshwater ecosystems of Serbia, along with stone and Danube crayfish. The noble crayfish has a complex historical and genetic status shaped by geological events, habitat loss, pollution, translocations, and reintroductions of both autochthonous and allochthonous crayfish species. That led to the disruption of the species genetic structure, mixing, and loss of populations across Europe. According to recent data, its populations in the freshwater ecosystems of Serbia are significantly reduced, so it has the status of a "strictly protected species". The genetic structure of the species must be known for endangered species conservation. Unfortunately, there is lack of such data for the territory of Serbia, which due to its position on the Balkan Peninsula, was an important refuge during the glaciation period. In this paper, the genetic structure of seven crayfish populations in freshwater ecosystems of Serbia was examined. Analyzes were performed on the COI and 16S rRNA genes of mitochondrial DNA. The study results showed a significant diversity of COI and 16S rRNA haplotypes compared to already described haplotypes. Three haplotypes were detected, of which Hap26 is the most common and was detected in five studied populations. Haplotypes Hap47 and Hap49 were detected in one and two populations, respectively. The results obtained in this study, together with previously published morphometric data, represent a good starting point for further genetic and population research, which are the basis for the proposal of conservation measures.