Species history masks the effects of human-induced range loss--unexpected genetic diversity in the endangered giant mayfly Palingenia longicauda.

ABSTRACT: Freshwater biodiversity has declined dramatically in Europe in recent decades. Because of massive habitat pollution and morphological degradation of water bodies, many once widespread species persist in small fractions of their original range. These range contractions are generally believed to be accompanied by loss of intraspecific genetic diversity, due to the reduction of effective population sizes and the extinction of regional genetic lineages. We aimed to assess the loss of genetic diversity and its significance for future potential reintroduction of the long-tailed mayfly Palingenia longicauda (Olivier), which experienced approximately 98% range loss during the past century. Analysis of 936 bp of mitochondrial DNA of 245 extant specimens across the current range revealed a surprisin

SUBMITTER: Balint M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3297596 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature