Occurrence of alien spirlin (Alburnoides sp.) in the Neretva river basin

Northern Mediterranean region is characterised by an exceptional richness of the freshwater ichthyofauna. Many fish species of this region are endemic to a single or a few river basins. This is also the case of the Neretva river basin (Adriatic Sea slope), where 17 out of 34 native species are endemic solely to this river basin. However, these unique Mediterranean freshwater ecosystems are fragile and are susceptible to human-induced changes, including introduction of alien fish species. We report here a finding of the 32nd alien fish species in the Neretva river basin, spirlin Alburnoides sp., which was found at two localities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The spirlin species was identified by molecular means as so far unnamed species with the native range in the Sava river basin (Danube river basin, Black Sea slope). Based on the comparison of cytochrome b sequences, the introduced population originated most probably from nearby rivers of the Danube basin in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Vrbas and Bosna river basins). Such a high number of alien fish species reported in a single river basin is alarming and pointing to a necessity of raising public awareness, especially among local fishermen

Phylogenetic relationships and biogeographical patterns in Circum-Mediterranean subfamily Leuciscinae (Teleostei, Cyprinidae) inferred from both mitochondrial and nuclear data

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Leuciscinae is a subfamily belonging to the Cyprinidae fish family that is widely distributed in Circum-Mediterranean region. Many efforts have been carried out to deciphering the evolutionary history of this group. Thus, different biogeographical scenarios have tried to explain the colonization of Europe and Mediterranean area by cyprinids, such as the "north dispersal" or the "Lago Mare dispersal" models. Most recently, Pleistocene glaciations influenced the distribution of leuciscins, especially in North and Central Europe. Weighing up these biogeographical scenarios, this paper constitutes not only the first attempt at deciphering the mitochondrial and nuclear relationships of Mediterranean leuciscins but also a test of biogeographical hypotheses that could have determined the current distribution of Circum-Mediterranean leuciscins.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 4439 characters (mitochondrial + nuclear) from 321 individuals of 176 leuciscine species rendered a well-supported phylogeny, showing fourteen main lineages. Analyses of independent mitochondrial and nuclear markers supported the same main lineages, but basal relationships were not concordant. Moreover, some incongruence was found among independent mitochondrial and nuclear phylogenies. The monophyly of some poorly known genera such as <it>Pseudophoxinus </it>and <it>Petroleuciscus </it>was rejected. Representatives of both genera belong to different evolutionary lineages. Timing of cladogenetic events among the main leuciscine lineages was gained using mitochondrial and all genes data set.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Adaptations to a predatory lifestyle or miniaturization have superimposed the morphology of some species. These species have been separated into different genera, which are not supported by a phylogenetic framework. Such is the case of the genera <it>Pseudophoxinus </it>and <it>Petroleuciscus</it>, which real taxonomy is not well known. The diversification of leuciscine lineages has been determined by intense vicariant events following the paleoclimatological and hydrogeological history of Mediterranean region. We propose different colonization models of Mediterranean region during the early Oligocene. Later vicariance events promoted Leuciscinae diversification during Oligocene and Miocene periods. Our data corroborate the presence of leuciscins in North Africa before the Messinian salinity crisis. Indeed, Messinian period appears as a stage of gradually Leuciscinae diversification. The rise of humidity at the beginning of the Pliocene promoted the colonization and posterior isolation of newly established freshwater populations. Finally, Pleistocene glaciations determined the current European distribution of some leuciscine species.</p

RECENT DATA ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF FRESHWATER ICHTHYOFAUNA IN ALBANIA

U ovom članku izložen je ažurirani popis slatkovodnih riba u Albaniji za svaki podsliv. Prikazani podaci o rasprostranjenosti i popisi taksona temelje se na pregledu literature do listopada 2022. i intenzivnom terenskom radu u posljednjih 15 godina. Prikazani su podaci o distribuciji 101 vrste riba (koje potječu iz 25 porodica) iz 11 različitih podslivova. Postoje novi zapisi koji uključuju domaće, strane i translocirane vrste riba. Osobitost albanskih slatkovodnih riba je istaknuta pri definiranju specifične ihtiološke regije za cijelu balkansku regiju. Fauna slatkovodnih riba Albanije predstavlja posebnu vrijednost nacionalne baštine, posebice zbog svoje raznolikosti i visokog stupnja endemičnosti. To je uglavnom zbog složenih geoloških i klimatskih uvjeta i položaja između Jadranskog i Jonskog mora na zapadu i kontinentalnih područja Balkana s druge strane, što je omogućilo različite kolonizacije izvan područja i duga razdoblja specijacije. Jedanaest hidrografskih bazenskih jedinica analizirano je u pogledu sastava vrsta, evolucijskih obrazaca i ekoloških značajki. Ovim pregledom broj albanskih slatkovodnih riba iznosi 101, s 20 vrsta dodanih iz prethodnog popisa iz 1995. godine i nekoliko vrsta izbrisanih zbog taksonomskih promjena.In this article, we provide an updated list of freshwater fishes in Albania for each sub-basin. The distribution data and taxa-lists presented are based on a literature review up to October 2022 and intensive fieldwork conducted in the last 15 years. Distributional records of 101 fish species (deriving from 25 families) in 11 different sub-basins are reported. There are new records that include native, alien and translocated fish species. The distinctiveness of Albanian freshwater fishes is highlighted while defining a specific ichthyological region for the whole Balkan region. The freshwater fish fauna of Albania represents a special value of the national heritage, especially due to its diversity and a high degree of endemicity. This is mainly due to the complex geological and climatic conditions, and the location between the Adriatic and Ionian Seas on the west and the continental areas of the Balkans on the other side, which have allowed different colonization from outside the area and long periods of speciation. Eleven hydrographic basin units are analyzed for species composition, evolutionary patterns, and ecological features. This review brings the number of Albanian freshwater fish taxa to 101, with 20 species added from the previous 1995 inventory and several species deleted due to taxonomic changes

Novi podaci o rasprostranjenosti riječnog glavočića, Neogobius fluviatilis (Pallas, 1814) u Bosni i Hercegovini i Hrvatskoj s osvrtom na ekologiju i prateće riblje vrste

The invasive fish species Neogobius fluviatilis was recorded at one locality on each of the two investigated rivers, Una and Kupa. The expansion of this species in Bosnia and Herzegovina is presented, as well as the habitat characteristics of the locality on the Una River. Additionally, a list of the associated fish fauna at both localities is given: 18 and 29 additional fish species were recorded for the Una and Kupa Rivers, respectively.Tijekom istraživanja ihtiofaune nizinskih rijeka Hrvatske, na jednom lokalitetu istraživanog područja rijeke Une i jednom lokalitetu područja rijeke Kupe zabilježena je invanzivna riblja vrsta, Neogobius fluviatilis. Daje se osvrt na širenje te vrste u Bosni i Hercegovini i Hrvatskoj te značajke staništa na rijeci Uni na kojoj je zabilježena. Također, daje se popis utvrđenih vrsta riba na oba lokaliteta, za rijeku Unu 18, a za rijeku Kupu 29 vrsta

Genetic hypervariability of a Northeastern Atlantic venomous rockfish

Background: Understanding the interplay between climate and current and historical factors shaping genetic diversity is pivotal to infer changes in marine species range and communities’ composition. A hylogeographical break between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean has been documented for several marine organisms, translating into limited dispersal between the two basins. Methods: In this study, we screened the intraspecific diversity of 150 individuals of the Madeira rockfish (Scorpaena maderensis) across its distributional range (seven sampling locations in the Atlantic and Mediterranean basins) using the mitochondrial control region and the nuclear S7 first intron. Results: The present work is the most comprehensive study done for this species, yielding no genetic structure across sampled locations and no detectable Atlantic-Mediterranean break in connectivity. Our results reveal deep and hyper-diverse bush-like genealogies with large numbers of singletons and very few shared haplotypes. The genetic hyper-diversity found for the Madeira rockfish is relatively uncommon in rocky coastal species, whose dispersal capability is limited by local oceanographic patterns. The effect of climate warming on the distribution of the species is discussed.MARE/UIDB/MAR/04292/2020info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Three mitochondrial lineages and no Atlantic-Mediterranean barrier for the bogue Boops boops across its widespread distribution

Marine species exhibiting wide distributional ranges are frequently subdivided into discrete genetic units over limited spatial scales. This is often due to specifc life-history traits or oceanographic barriers that prevent gene fow. Fine-scale sampling studies revealed distinct phylogeographic patterns in the northeastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean, ranging from panmixia to noticeable population genetic structure. Here, we used mitochondrial sequence data to analyse connectivity in the bogue Boops boops throughout most of its widespread distribution. Our results identifed the existence of three clades, one comprising specimens from the Azores and eastern Atlantic/Mediterranean, another with individuals from the Canary Islands, Madeira and Cape Verde archipelagos, and the third with samples from Mauritania only. One of the branches of the northern subtropical gyre (Azores Current) that drifts towards the Gulf of Cádiz promotes a closer connection between the Azores, southern Portugal and the Mediterranean B. boops populations. The Almería-Oran Front, widely recognised as an oceanographic barrier for many organisms to cross the Atlantic-Mediterranean divide, does not seem to afect the dispersal of this benthopelagic species. The southward movement of the Cape Verde Frontal Zone during the winter, combined with the relatively short duration of the pelagic larval stage of B. boops, may be potential factors for preventing the connectivity between the Atlantic oceanic archipelagos and Mauritania shaping the genetic signature of this species.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - FCTinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Diversity, phylogeny and intraspecific variability of Paradiplozoon species (Monogenea: Diplozoidae) parasitizing endemic cyprinoids in the Middle East

Diplozoidae are common monogenean ectoparasites of cyprinoid fish, with the genus Paradiplozoon being the most diversified. Despite recent studies on Diplozoidae from Europe, Africa and Asia, the diversity, distribution and phylogeny of this parasite group appears to be still underestimated in the Middle East. The objective of this study was to investigate the diversity, endemism and host specificity of diplozoids parasitizing cyprinoid fish from the Middle East, considering this region as an important historical interchange of fish fauna, and to elucidate the phylogenetic position of Middle Eastern Paradiplozoon species within Diplozoidae. Four Paradiplozoon species were collected from 48 out of 94 investigated cyprinoid species. Three known species, Paradiplozoon homoion, Paradiplozoon bliccae and Paradiplozoon bingolensis, were recorded on new cyprinoid host species, and a new species, Paradiplozoon koubkovae n. sp., was recorded on Luciobarbus capito and Capoeta capoeta from the Caspian Sea basin in Iran and Turkey. Paradiplozoon bliccae, exhibiting a wide host range in the Middle East, expressed both morphological and genetic intraspecific variabilities. The four Paradiplozoon species collected in the Middle East were placed in divergent clades, showing the rich evolutionary history of diplozoid parasites in the Middle East. Our study also revealed that two lineages of African diplozoids have a Middle Eastern origin. We stress the importance of applying an integrative approach combining morphological, ecological and molecular methods to reveal the real diversity of diplozoids