Genetic variability in European Leptestheria dahalacensis (Rüppel, 1837) (Crustacea, Branchiopoda, Spinicaudata)

The genetic variability of the gonochoric Leptestheria dahalacensis (Rüppel, 1837) was studied through the analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear (microsatellite loci) markers in eight Italian and two Central European populations. Mitochondrial data exhibited a low variability, as only six mitotypes were scored: five in Italy and one for both Central European samples, with a very low number of substitutions. All analysed microsatellite loci were variable, with 3-5 alleles per locus and 1-4 alleles per population. All populations were at the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, with the exceptions of two samples for locus ldAC-16, due to heterozygote excess, and of four populations for locus ldAC-11, probably linked to the presence of null alleles. A substantial population structuring was found between Central European and Italian samples for both utilized markers. This observation may be explained by isolation by distance and/or recent isolation events. On the other hand, the absence of a clear inter-pond variability in Italian sample comparisons may be ascribed to high dispersal ability in the short range. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.