Population Genetic Patterns of Threatened European Mudminnow (Umbra krameri Walbaum, 1792) in a Fragmented Landscape: Implications for Conservation Management

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 10; no. 9; p. e0138640
• Main Authors: Takács, Péter, Erős, Tibor, Specziár, András, Sály, Péter, Vitál, Zoltán, Ferincz, Árpád, Molnár, Tamás, Szabolcsi, Zoltán, Bíró, Péter, Csoma, Eszter
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 22.09.2015; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: 19th century; Animals; Biological evolution; Catchments; Conservation; Conservation of Natural Resources - methods; Ecosystem; Endangered & extinct species; Endangered Species; Endemic species; Europe; Fish; Floods; Gene Flow; Gene Frequency; Genetic structure; Genetic Variation; Genetics, Population; Geography; Geomorphology; Habitats; Levees & battures; Linkage Disequilibrium; Metapopulations; Microsatellite Repeats - genetics; Perccottus glenii; Population decline; Population Density; Population Dynamics; Population genetics; Population structure; Populations; Preservation; Regulation; Resource conservation; Rivers; Structural hierarchy; Umbra krameri; Umbridae - classification; Umbridae - genetics; Umbridae - growth & development; Europe; Hungary; Tisza River; Carpathian Basin
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138640

The European mudminnow (Umbra krameri) is a Middle Danubian endemic fish species, which is characterised by isolated populations living mainly in artificial habitats in the centre of its range, in the Carpathian Basin. For their long term preservation, reliable information is needed about the structure of stocks and the level of isolation. The recent distribution pattern, and the population genetic structure within and among regions were investigated to designate the Evolutionary Significant, Conservation and Management Units (ESUs, CUs, MUs) and to explore the conservation biological value of the shrinking populations. In total, eight microsatellite loci were studied in 404 specimens originating from eight regions. The results revealed a pronounced population structure, where strictly limited gene flow was detected among regions, as well as various strengths of connections within regions. Following the results of hierarchical structure analyses, two ESUs were supposed in the Carpathian Basin, corresponding to the Danube and Tisza catchments. Our results recommend designating the borders of CUs in an 80-90km range and 16 clusters should be set up as MUs for the 33 investigated populations. How these genetic findings can be used to better allocate conservation resources for the long term maintenance of the metapopulation structure of this threathened endemic fish is discussed.