The first record of translocated white-clawed crayfish from the Austropotamobius pallipes complex in Sardinia (Italy)

<p>The white-clawed crayfish <em>Austropotamobius pallipes </em>complex is native to Europe, being present in 18 European countries, Italy included. However, the number and abundance of its populations are today restricted and it has been recently classified as “endangered” by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). Here, we report the first record of this freshwater crayfish in Sardinia Island (Italy). Using a fragment of the mitochondrial DNA 16S rRNA gene, we identified three haplotypes that correspond to the <em>A. italicus meridionalis </em>subclade. We provide information about the sampling area, population density and finally discuss hypotheses about the occurrence of this population in Sardinia, comparing it with other Mediterranean populations. Our results improve the existing knowledge about the phylogeography of the taxon across Italy, confirming its complex pattern of distribution. In addition to the non-native status of the Sardinian <em>A. i. meridionalis</em> crayfish, we showed that the most proximal Mediterranean population of white-clawed crayfish existing in Corsica belongs to <em>A. pallipes</em> from Southern France.</p

Morphological differentiation of Icelandic Redpolls, <i>Acanthis flammea islandica</i>

<p><b>Capsule</b> The analyses support the grouping of the three <i>Acanthis</i> species, although a large split is observed between the <i>A. hornemanni</i> subspecies.</p> <p><b>Aims</b> To investigate the morphological variation in <i>A. f. islandica</i> among different periods of the year and its morphological differentiation from the other subspecies <i>A. f. flammea</i> and <i>A. f. rostrata</i>, and also from the redpoll species, <i>A. cabaret</i> and the two subspecies of <i>A. hornemanni</i>, <i>exilipes</i> and <i>hornemanni</i>.</p> <p><b>Methods</b> The subspecies status of the Icelandic population was evaluated with Amadon's rule, by comparing its variation of traits to the distribution of the traits in different species/subspecies of the group.</p> <p><b>Results</b><i>A. f. islandica</i> is characterized by intermediate wing, bill and tail lengths. Based on the 75% rule, wing length and bill depth can be used to discriminate <i>A. f. islandica</i> from both extreme morphs of redpolls (currently classified as different species); <i>A. hornemanni</i> and <i>A. cabaret</i>, and tail and wing length can distinguish <i>A. f. islandica</i> from its conspecifics <i>A. f. flammea</i>. The overall morphological divergence within the redpoll complex is not supported by association to the studied nuclear markers.</p> <p><b>Conclusion</b> The taxonomic status of the three redpoll species is supported by Amadon's rule, however the subspecies status of the Icelandic Redpoll remains unclear.</p

Phylogeny and phylogeography of the white-clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipex complex) in the rivers of the Adriatic Basin

Systematics of the white‐clawed crayfish is continuously debated and as such caused problems for effective conservation and population management. To improve the knowledge on this endangered species complex, its phylogenetic relationships and species phylogeography within the Adriatic Basin were revised using results from analyses of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), codominant nuclear DNA markers (microsatellites), and morphometrics. Analyses on mtDNA resulted with description of new lineages. Distribution of mtDNA lineages has regular geographic pattern and can be related to geological history of the Adriatic region dated from Messinian salinity crisis until Pleistocene marine regressions. Microsatellites analyses revealed introgression and admixture of nuclear genome between distinct mtDNA lineages. Results of morphometrical analyses are in line with the genetic structur e obtained from microsatellites analyses. The obtained results enabled definition of Evolutionary Significant Units and Management Units, useful in future conservation and management of endangered white-clawed crayfish populations in the Adriatic Sea basins. Also, it confirms a necessity of multiple analyses application (molecular and morphological) in managing endangered species populations