Molecular-genetic diversity of the endangered Dalmatian barbelgudgeon, Aulopyge huegelii from the Buško Blato reservoir.

A number of studies investigating different aspects of IUCN endangered species, Aulopyge huegelii Heckel, 1843 (Dalmatian barbelgudgeon) biology have been conducted, but data on molecular genetics are lacking. The goal of this survey was to assess the genetic structure of the A. huegelii population from the Buško Blato reservoir, based on four mitochondrial DNA regions and five microsatellite loci. Excluding cytochrome b, more than one haplotype has been detected in all sequenced mtDNA regions, most of which had not been previously described. A total of seven composite haplotypes were detected. Nucleotide diversity was relatively low for all coding genes but slightly higher for the control region. Microsatellite analysis revealed a relatively high value of major allele frequency, lower values of observed and expected heterozygosity, as well as a moderately reduced number of alleles and genotypes in three of the five observed loci. Although with a clear trend of decline, the level of genetic diversity is still sufficient to ensure the subsistence of the population if the stressors are removed. Otherwise, the loss of heterozygosity will continue, possibly to the point of a complete eradication of the Dalmatian barbelgudgeon from the Buško Blato reservoir.