20.500.12556/RUL-175979 An integrative approach highlights the discrepancy in the genetic, phenotypic, and presumptive taxonomic structure of Phoxinus (Actinopterygii, Leuciscidae, Phoxininae) in Bulgaria The present drainage network of Bulgaria is the result of a complex Neogene and Quaternary evolution. Karst, which has developed on 23% of the territory, further complicates the hydrological pattern. Fresh waters of Bulgaria drain into the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea basins and can be roughly divided into the Danube (Middle and Lower Danube), non-Danube Black Sea, East Aegean, and West Aegean hydrological regions. Phoxinus, a small leuciscid fish, has a mosaic distribution in all four of these regions, inhabiting small mountainous and semi-mountainous streams. Based on morphology, it was identified as three species, Phoxinus phoxinus in the Danube, Phoxinus strandjae in the non-Danube, and Phoxinus strymonicus in West Aegean region. Later, molecular data revealed Phoxinus csikii and Phoxinus lumaireul in the Middle Danube and P. csikii in the Lower Danube. Phoxinus has been the focus of many studies, showing a high molecular and morphological diversity, which is not entirely consistent with previous morphology-only-based taxonomic concepts. In this study, molecular (a mitochondrial marker and a nuclear marker) and morphological data from both historical and recently sampled collections were analysed to assess the applicability of the integrative approach in Phoxinus. The results showed a significant influence of the complex paleo- and recent hydrology on the currently observed genetic structure of the considered populations and species. Furthermore, the study also demonstrated a strong influence of phenotypic plasticity on the morphological analysis of Phoxinus and the lack of a clear differentiation between P. csikii and P. strandjae. A barcoded specimen was designated as neotype to fix the species named P. strandjae in the current taxonomic concept. Finally, a significant discordance between genetically delimited clades and phenotypic groups did not allow a proper delineation of the species distributed in Bulgaria, demonstrating that more molecular markers are needed for further taxonomic study of the Phoxinus complex. common minnow genetic markers morphology taxonomy variations true false true Angleški jezik Ni določen Članek v reviji 2025-11-17 09:58:31 2025-11-17 09:58:33 2025-12-16 04:05:06 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2024 0 0 Str. 214-238 iss. 1 Vol. 105 2024 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno NiDoloceno 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 59 0022-1112 10.1111/jfb.15765 255901699 Journal_of_Fish_Biology_-_2024_-_Palandacic_-_An_integrative_approach_highlights_the_discrepancy_in_the_genetic__phenotypic.pdf Journal_of_Fish_Biology_-_2024_-_Palandacic_-_An_integrative_approach_highlights_the_discrepancy_in_the_genetic__phenotypic.pdf 1 2A252862B76EBF6026CE076BC2440C69 b0ea1212a725194a8ae22077418e2e179ca614f002b2fe974bf14d29a8c8d816 7aeaf597-c393-11f0-9328-0050569b8976 https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=221975 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jfb.15765 0 644b81ad-c393-11f0-9328-0050569b8976 https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=221974 Biotehniška fakulteta 0 0 0