Conservation genetics study of huchen in Slovenia recommends river system-based management and indicates self-sustainability of the middle Sava population

Snoj, Aleš (avtor), Bravničar, Jernej (avtor), Zabric, Daša (avtor), Sušnik Bajec, Simona (avtor)

1. The middle part of the Sava River in Slovenia provides one of the longest free-flowing habitats for huchen, a threatened species that is also protected by the European Habitats Directive. However, there are plans for the construction of a chain of hydropower plants along this stretch of river. It has previously been assumed that huchen is no longer self-sustainable here, but dependent upon stocking with hatchery-reared fish. 2. Using microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA, the genetic structure of huchen in its entire range in Slovenia was analysed with the particular aim of assessing the self-sustainability of the species in the middle Sava. 3. Using factorial correspondence analysis and assignment tests, a distinct genetic cluster was identified for each of the three main river systems in the country (Sava, Kolpa and Mura–Drava). In the middle Sava, a genetic admixture between stocked and local individuals, observed beyond F1, and a unique genetic substructure not corresponding to the stocking sources, were found. 4. These results indicate the self-sustainability of the middle Sava population and justify its protection. The estimated effective population size in the middle Sava is below the accepted minimum, and additional fragmentation arising from dam construction would cause the genetic breakdown of this huchen population. 5. To preserve local genetic pools and possible inter-population adaptive differentiation, we recommend that the three, historically isolated, river system-bound populations (from the Sava, Kolpa and Mura–Drava) are managed separately. However, separate management of the small, isolated populations in the once free-flowing Sava river system is not encouraged as it may cause their genetic impoverishment. 6. The potential impact of this study on the conservation management of huchen more widely is discussed, with emphasis on the Balkans, where large populations still exist and their management is just beginning.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: dam, effective population size, gene flow, genetic admixture, genetic cluster, habitat fragmentation, Hucho hucho, hydropower plant, introgression, management unit
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: BF - Biotehniška fakulteta
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2022
• Št. strani: Str. 1171-1183
• Številčenje: Vol. 32, iss. 7
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-138378
• UDK: 597.2/.5
• ISSN pri članku: 1099-0755
• DOI: 10.1002/aqc.3834
• COBISS.SI-ID: 109361923
• Datum objave v RUL: 18.07.2022

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: Aquatic conservation : marine and freshwater ecosystems
• Skrajšan naslov: Aquat. conserv.
• Založnik: Wiley
• ISSN: 1099-0755
• COBISS.SI-ID: 517659673

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva-Nekomercialno-Brez predelav 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: Najbolj omejujoča licenca Creative Commons. Uporabniki lahko prenesejo in delijo delo v nekomercialne namene in ga ne smejo uporabiti za nobene druge namene.

Sekundarni jezik

• Jezik: Slovenski jezik
• Ključne besede: ribe, sulec, genetika, ohranjanje, Slovenija

Projekti

• Financer: ARRS - Agencija za raziskovalno dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: V1-1436
• Naslov: Izdelava strokovnih podlag za ohranjanje habitata in populacije sulca na območju srednje Save