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Deciphering the evolutionary biology of freshwater fish using multiple approaches – insights for the biological conservation of the Vairone (Leuciscus souffia souffia)

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Abstract

The organisation of genetic variability is ofprimary importance in designing conservationstrategies. In this context, the conservationunits are often defined using the concept ofEvolutionary Significant Units (ESUs) whatcould appear as a useful guide but are veryrarely used. Another difficulty arises whenspecies hybridise as it is the case in cyprinidfishes for which the debate joins discussionson the species definitions. For example, thevairone, Leuciscus souffia (Teleostei:Cyprinidae) is a protected species (IUCN, Bernconvention, Habitat directive) but currentlegislation does not take into account itsambiguous taxonomic status, neither its geneticvariability nor its ecological preferences. Inthis paper, we examine the genetic structureand phylogeography of the subspecies Leuciscus souffia souffia in its range(France) with a combination of morphology,allozymes and mitochondrial DNA sequences usinganalyses mainly based on AMOVA and nested cladeanalysis. We then decipher the evolutionarybiology of this fish as the combined analysisof morphology, nuclear and mitochondrialmarkers displays decoupling betweenmorphological homogeneity and moderate geneticdifferentiation, suggesting that ManagementUnits (following Moritz' definition) should bedesigned. We conclude by proposing directionsboth for the protection of endangeredpopulations and for the conservation ofevolutionary potential based on theevolutionary dynamics found for the examinedpopulations in the light of the most-often useddefinitions of ESUs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Equipe d'Accueil Biodiversité 2202 – Université de Provence –, Case 36 – 3, Place Victor Hugo, 13331, Marseille cedex 3, France

    M.D. Salducci, N. Pech, R. Chappaz, C. Costedoat & A. Gilles

  2. Centre de Biologie et de Gestion des Populations – Campus International de Baillarguet, CS 30016, 34988, Montferrier-sur-Lez cedex, France

    J.-F. Martin

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  1. M.D. Salducci
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  2. J.-F. Martin
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  3. N. Pech
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  4. R. Chappaz
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  5. C. Costedoat
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  6. A. Gilles
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Correspondence to A. Gilles.

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Salducci, M., Martin, JF., Pech, N. et al. Deciphering the evolutionary biology of freshwater fish using multiple approaches – insights for the biological conservation of the Vairone (Leuciscus souffia souffia). Conservation Genetics 5, 63–77 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:COGE.0000014054.57397.3f

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