Two species of the genus Gryllus occur in Europe: G. campestris and G. bimaculatus. The first is widely distributed in the north-western Palaearctic, while the second, G. bimaculatus, occurs predominantly in the Mediterranean area. There is a visible pattern in the distribution of G. campestris, the insect being rare and threatened in the western part of its range, whereas it is still abundant in the east. Despite the fact that this species is commonly used in laboratory experiments, its natural populations are poorly characterised. In the present study, we analysed cricket populations from the lower Oder and Vistula River valleys in Poland. Based on the phylogeny of the mtDNA cytochrome b fragment, we found that 17% of the individuals studied had a G. bimaculatus-like mtDNA haplotype. Analyses of 11 autosomal microsatellite loci failed to reveal any clear genetic differentiation between individuals assigned to these two clades. This suggests, along with the spatial distribution of G. bimaculatus-like haplotypes, successful interbreeding of G. bimaculatus with native populations of G. campestris. However, both the nuclear data and additional analyses of two X-chromosome-linked microsatellite loci revealed incomplete introgression. Human-mediated introgression seems to be the most plausible explanation of the observed genotypic pattern such that caution needs to be taken in conservation efforts carried out in the western part of the species' range., Hanna Panagiotopoulou, Mateusz Baca, Katarzyna Baca, Paweł Sienkiewicz, Piotr Ślipiński, Michał Żmihorski., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Genetic variability within and among fragmented populations of Artemisia pancicii was investigated in order to obtain a general understanding of the genetic structure related to the successful protection of this highly endangered species. Genetic variation within and among 15 populations of A. pancicii in Central Europe was analysed using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and sequencing of two chloroplast DNA regions. The resulting polymorphism of AFLP loci was interpreted using basic population genetic indices and statistical visualisation. The total genetic variability within the populations was high (Ht = 0.248) and a highly differentiated population pattern (Fst = 0.241) was revealed. An analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed high variation among the populations (82%). There was no significant correlation between the genetic and geographic distance matrices. This indicates that population relatedness is not reflected in their geography. This was also confirmed by cpDNA sequencing. Highly restricted gene flow among the populations and genetic drift has resulted in reduced genetic variability in the smaller and highly differentiated A. pancicii populations, and very probably implies the presence of self-incompatibility and prevalence of clonal reproduction. The conservation of genetic variability in A. pancicii requires the persistence of large and also of small populations (because of population differentiation). The most important factor for the preservation of this species in the localities studied is the application of appropriate conservation management (such as mowing, grazing or fire management).
Cucujus cinnaberinus (Scopoli, 1763) is a saproxylic beetle listed in the IUCN Red List and the European Habitats Directive. Although the species is highly protected and often red-listed little is known about its ecological requirements and status of its populations. Therefore, our main aims were to review its current and historical distributions and status of C. cinnaberinus populations in Europe and to determine its recent habitat preferences at the landscape level in the Czech Republic, where the increasing number of records over the last few years indicates a possible increase in abundance of this beetle. Cucujus cinnaberinus is closely associated with soft-wood and broad leaved trees and is able to colonize man-made habitats from persisting local populations if there is a sufficient supply of suitable dead wood. This beetle is not restricted to old-growth forests or even relict woodland, as previously reported, but currently predominantly inhabits abandoned planted stands of trees like lignicultures or avenues, which have an open canopy. Colonization of stands dominated by hybrid poplars probably resulted in the recent increase in the number of records of this species in the central European countries. However, this could present problems for the protection of this species in future, because the trees in these stands are gradually dying and are not being replaced. The decline and extinction of C. cinnaberinus on the northern and southern edges of its distribution was probably caused by the absence of soft-wooded broadleaved trees in intensively managed forests and other more suitable habitats.
The number of little owls, Athene noctua is decreasing in many European countries. In order to evaluate causes of the decline in Poland, habitat preferences of this species were analysed. Using GIS methods, 25 settled territories of the little owl, recorded during field surveys between 2000 and 2005, were compared with 50 unsettled locations. It was found that the proportion of built-up areas was higher in the occupied territories than in the random locations. No differences in grassland, forest and field proportion, habitat diversity and edge length were recorded between the occupied, and the random locations. The amount of forest and the proportion of built up areas appeared to be the best predictor of the occurrence of the little owl. Next, habitat use at 7 additional territories, which were occupied by little owls in 1980–90s and later abandoned, was analysed. In 2006, as compared to the period 1980–90, numbers of pollard willows decreased, whereas the number of buildings increased in these territories. The overall results lead to a conclusion that the little owl shows a high degree of habitat plasticity. The decrease of the area of grasslands and numbers of pollard willows is not likely to explain the population decline of the species.
The European stag beetle, Lucanus cervus, is recognised as a flagship species for biodiversity conservation. Although the species is widely distributed across Europe declines have led to it being granted protected or endangered status in a number of countries and regarded as "near threatened" by the IUCN. The integration of genetic approaches into conservation efforts is urgently needed but has been impeded to date by the lack of appropriate genetic markers. To provide such a resource the development of the first microsatellite loci for stag beetle is described. Loci were identified using two methods (i) enriched library cloning (ELC) and (ii) Restriction enzyme Associated DNA sequencing (RAD-Seq). Inefficient microsatellite detection using the ELC method suggests that RAD-Seq, or other Next Generation Sequencing based methods, may ultimately be more cost effective for obtaining informative suites of markers for this and other coleopteran species. 18 loci were characterised by genotyping 42 UK specimens collected as prey leftover/roadkill. All loci produced unambiguous genotypes and were polymorphic. Though preliminary, estimates of genetic variability suggest UK populations may be genetically depauperate. The microsatellite loci represent a suite of genetic markers that can be applied to non-invasive population monitoring and numerous other areas of Lucanus conservation and evolutionary research., Niall J. McKeown, Deborah J. Harvey, Amy J. E. Healey, Ilze Skujina, Karen Cox, Alan C. Gange, Paul W. Shaw., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The butterfly Proclossiana eunomia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) was discovered at a single locality in the Czech Republic in 1963. Until the 1980s, it was known from a restricted area, from which it spontaneously expanded during the 1980s to other localities up to 23 km from the source population. Samples were collected in 2002 from the source and ten other populations, totalling 274 specimens. All samples were analysed by electrophoresis for four polymorphic loci. Mean heterozygosity decreased with distance from the source population; this suggested a process of stepping stone colonization, involving the loss of rare alleles along the way. The populations close to the source population (less then ca. 15 km) retain a similar heterozygosity, whereas populations further away have a much reduced heterozygosity. Such a pattern of genetic differentiation and founder effect within a region is typical of specialized species with relatively low dispersal ability. The high level of genetic polymorphism found in the Šumava populations suggests that populations of this northern species in temperate-zone mountains are not just outposts of otherwise huge northern distribution, but represent genuine phylogeographic refugia. Survival of such species depends on the survival of the source population and of a sufficiently dense network of habitat patches.
This study aimed to define the morphological characters useful to discriminate wild from stocked brown trout Salmo trutta in Serbia. Rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss and Ohrid Lake’s belvica Salmothymus ohridanus were also examined as outgroup taxa in order to understand better the overall variability and to reduce bias in the methodology applied. Certain continuous external morphological characters were found useful to distinguish clearly the wild and stocked brown trout in particular streams. Molecular analysis is needed to validate this result, which could permit rapid field assessment and subsequent conservation of wild or stocked origin of as yet uninvestigated brown trout stocks in Serbia.
The number of colonies of red wood ants (Formica rufa group) in the north western part of Belgium has declined by more than half over the past 20 years. In the study area of 20 × 50 km there are currently only 36 colonies of two species of red wood ants (Formica rufa and F. polyctena). Both species form both monodomous and polydomous colonies. Monodomous F. rufa colonies occur in large areas of open woodland dominated by Pinus sylvestris. The other three types of red wood ant (F. rufa polydomous, F. polyctena mono- and polydomous) occur in clearings or along the margins of small areas of deciduous or mixed woodland. The extinction of red wood ants cannot be attributed to a loss of their main habitat. Their decline in abundance, however, appears to be due to the deterioration in their habitat caused by several factors. Shading by overgrowing shrubs and the closure of the tree canopy, nearby intensive agriculture, urbanisation and use of the forest for recreation are the more important factors threatening and ultimately leading to the extinction of colonies. At poor quality sites there are no or very few nests of Serviformica ants, which initially serve as host ants and are necessary for recolonization by red wood ants. Thus, it is unlikely that these sites will be recolonized. To conserve red wood ants and maintain populations there is an urgent need to undertake certain measures, especially in areas outside nature reserves. For this there is a need to create clearings in the woodland, reduce shading due to overgrowing shrubs and closure of the tree canopy, and mitigate the effects of intensive agriculture, urbanisation and recreation. It is important that the effects of these measures should be monitored.
Five species of the genus Gobio have been recorded in Slovenia. G. albipinnatus Lukasch, 1933, G. uranoscopus (Agassiz. 1828), G.Gobio (Linnaeus, 1758) and G. kesslerii Dybowski, 1862 inhabit watercourses of the Danube River in the eastern part of Slovenia (the ecatchments of the Sava, Drava and Mura rivers). G. benacensis (Pollini, 1816 inhabits Adriatic sea basin (the catchment of the Vipava river). The last one was found in Slovenia for the first time in October 2003. In the Red List of Slovenian Freshwater Fishes and Lampreys three species G. albipinnatus, G. uranoscopus and G. kesslerii are classified as vulnerable (V). These species were proposed to be added in Annex II of Council Directive 92/43/EEC.
The distribution and abundance of the bitterling, a small ostracophilous cyprinid species, is reanalysed on the basis of our records and a review of the recent literature. This fish, recognised as endangered or vulnerable in many European countries, shows a rapid expansion beyond its native geographical range within the limits of the former Soviet Union. In the last decades it has invaded the lower Volga, Kuban and Aras River basins and has recently started to colonise the upper Volga and upper Ural River tributaries. From the early 1980s the number of water bodies and sampling sites where the bitterling is recorded, increases steadily over the entire area examined. At the same time, bitterlings increased in abundance and became a basic species in fish assemblages of diverse water bodies including rivers (both lower and upper reaches), ponds, canals and estuaries. The spread of bitterling outside its historical range results from man-made connections of contiguous waterway systems, from unintentional introductions by aquarists or, more likely, by anglers using bitterlings as bait fish. Independent and synchronous bitterling invasions to geographically distant basins indicate that some global or macroregional factors facilitate its expansion.