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Strong genetic differentiation and low genetic diversity of the freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera L.) in the southwestern European distribution range

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Abstract

Genetic diversity of European freshwater pearl mussel, Margaritifera margaritifera (L.), appears exceptional with highest genetic variability found in the northernmost European populations of Scandinavia and lower genetic variability in central and southern Europe. The objective of this study was to investigate genetic diversity and differentiation of 14 southernmost populations on the Iberian Peninsula which greatly differ in terms of life span and habitat conditions from the rest of central and northern European populations. The analyses of ten microsatellite loci revealed a pronounced level of genetic divergence and very low genetic diversity. These results match the expectations of geographically peripheral populations with respect to their genetic composition. The life history strategy, the narrow ecological niche of the species, and anthropogenic habitat modifications have most likely shaped the genetic pattern of Iberian pearl mussel populations. The peripheral position with less optimal habitat conditions may increase the extinction risk of these populations and thus effective conservation strategies for the Iberian M. margaritifera are needed. The successful conservation of the species at its southwestern margin requires inclusion of genetically different conservation units which may reveal local adaptation.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to express special thanks to H. Bayerl for his support with genotyping. We are also very grateful to Joaquim Reis, for his help with sampling, and Javier Morales for providing the samples from Zamora (Spain). Also invaluable was the help of Dr. Santos del Campo (Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain) who provided one of the sequencers for genotyping.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Aquatic Systems Biology Unit, Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management, Technische Universitaet Muenchen, Muehlenweg 22, 85354, Freising, Germany

    Bernhard C. Stoeckle & Juergen Geist

  2. Department of Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain

    Rafael Araujo, Carlos Toledo & Annie Machordom

  3. Chair of Zoology, Unit of Molecular Zoology, Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management, Technische Universitaet Muenchen, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2, 85354, Freising, Germany

    Ralph Kuehn

  4. Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology, New Mexico State University, Box 30003, MSC 4901, Las Cruces, NM, 88003-8003, USA

    Ralph Kuehn

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  1. Bernhard C. Stoeckle
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  2. Rafael Araujo
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  3. Juergen Geist
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  4. Ralph Kuehn
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  5. Carlos Toledo
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  6. Annie Machordom
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Correspondence to Annie Machordom.

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Stoeckle, B.C., Araujo, R., Geist, J. et al. Strong genetic differentiation and low genetic diversity of the freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera L.) in the southwestern European distribution range. Conserv Genet 18, 147–157 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-016-0889-3

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