title: Molecular data suggest a multispecies complex of Phoxinus (Cyprinidae) in the Western Balkan Peninsula.
abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the phylogeographic distribution of Phoxinus phoxinus sensu lato populations in the Balkan Peninsula using molecular methods. For the western Balkan Peninsula, two species (Danubian P. phoxinus and Adriatic P. lumaireul) have been suggested, but not confirmed by subsequent morphological studies or by genetic data. For the present study, more than 300 specimens were collected from the western Balkans. A partial sequence of the mt cyt b gene analysed using Bayesian and ML methods revealed several well-supported clades, with distances ranging from 4% to 11%. The clades were corroborated by RAG1 sequence analysis. Thus, the molecular analysis points to a multispecies complex of Phoxinus sp. with ranges of the clades extending north-west to south-east along the western Balkan Peninsula. In addition, the dispersion of fish through subterranean water connections in karst is indicated.
authors.affiliation: First Zoological Department, Natural History Museum Vienna, Burgring 7, 1010 Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: anja.palandacic@nhm-wien.ac.at.
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palandačić
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Groblje 3, 1230 Domžale, Slovenia. Electronic address: jernej.bravnicar@bf.uni-lj.si.
authors.forename: Jernej
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bravničar
authors.affiliation: AZV Agency, Dolsko 14, 1262 Dol pri Ljubljani, Slovenia. Electronic address: primoz.zupancic@guest.arnes.si.
authors.forename: Primož
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zupančič
authors.affiliation: National Museum, Václavské námestí 68, 115 79 Prague 1, Czech Republic. Electronic address: RSanda@seznam.cz.
authors.forename: Radek
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Šanda
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Groblje 3, 1230 Domžale, Slovenia. Electronic address: ales.snoj@bf.uni-lj.si.
authors.forename: Aleš
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Snoj
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D063368:Balkan Peninsula; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D003530:Cyprinidae / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D050259:Genes, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics; D058974:Phylogeography; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
keywords: Cyprinidae; Molecular methods; Phoxinus; Phylogeography; Western Balkan Peninsula