engleski

Climate change threatens unique genetic diversity of the endangered stone crayfish (Austropotamobius torrentium) within its European biodiversity hotspot

Climate change imperils the persistence of numerous keystone species, including European freshwater crayfish. The stone crayfish (Austropotamobius torrentium) is a native European freshwater species endangered due to anthropogenic pressure on its habitats, invasive alien crayfish species and climate change. In order to guide the conservation of the stone crayfish within the hotspot of its genetic diversity in Europe, we combined population genetics and species distribution modelling (SDM) to reveal the impact of climate change and invasive signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) on the stone crayfish diversity. Population genetic analyses based on newly developed microsatellites revealed moderate within-population genetic diversity and high differentiation among populations, reflecting isolated populations with limited gene flow. Alongside strong genetic structuring concordant with previously established Evolutionary Significant Units using mtDNA data, we discovered high level of inbreeding, indicating homozygote excess within the majority of populations. The SDM results predicted substantial decreases of suitable habitats for stone crayfish by 2070 ; 80% of its currently suitable habitat is predicted to be lost under high‐warming climate change scenario (RCP8.5). Overlapping genetic data with future habitat suitability revealed that 44% of populations with high and/or unique genetic diversity, including three highly divergent and geographically restricted evolutionary lineages, are located in the areas predicted to become unsuitable in the future. Further, SDMs revealed substantial decrease of future habitat suitability for invasive signal crayfish, suggesting that climate change represents greater threat to stone crayfish. Our study highlights the importance of conserving remnant populations through assisted migration and repopulation approaches that could enable species long-term preservation. The results of our research emphasize the importance of multidisciplinary approach in the modern biodiversity conservation.

conservation ; species distribution modelling ; population genetics

nije evidentirano