Mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene analysis indicates a restricted genetic background in Finnish noble crayfish (Astacus astacus) stocks

• Published in: Knowledge and management of aquatic ecosystems 2015 (416), p.21
• Main Authors: Makkonen, J., Kokko, H., Jussila, J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aphanomyces astaci; Astacus astacus; Biodiversity; Crayfish; Cytochrome; Cytochrome oxidase I; cytochrome oxydase I; Cytochromes; Distribution; diversité génétique; déclin de population; Epidemics; espèces indigènes; Expressed sequence tags; Freshwater crustaceans; Genetic analysis; Genetic diversity; Genetic variation; Haplotypes; Indigenous species; Invasive species; l’écrevisse à pattes rouges; Mitochondria; Native organisms; native species; noble crayfish; Oxidase; Plague; Population; Population decline; Populations; Propagation; Spreading; Stocks; Surveying
• ISSN: 1961-9502; 1961-9502
• DOI: 10.1051/kmae/2015017

The IUCN Red List indexes the noble crayfish (Astacus astacus) as vulnerable, with a declining population trend. The main threats to the species are the crayfish plague caused by the oomycete Aphanomyces astaci and the introduced North American crayfish that act as the carriers of this disease. In Finland, the noble crayfish is considered as a native species, which original distribution area covers the southern part of the country, but the species distribution has been dispersed to cover almost the whole country. The aim of this study was to survey the genetic diversity among the Finnish noble crayfish populations. The mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI)-gene was sequenced from 742 individuals representing 59 populations from Finland and Estonia. As a result, only a single haplotype was found. Based on these results, the genetic diversity of noble crayfish in its Northern distribution range is remarkably low. The observed lack of variation can result from several mechanisms including small size of the founder population and the intense spreading of the species by manmade stockings. The restricted diversity can also be caused by eradication of the original populations due to crayfish plague epidemics and spreading of the invasive crayfish species carrying the crayfish plague. It is also possible that all contemporary Finnish noble crayfish populations originate from stockings with no variation in respect to COI-gene. La liste rouge de l’UICN inscrit l’écrevisse à pattes rouges (Astacus astacus) comme vulnérable, avec une tendance à la baisse de la population. Les principales menaces pesant sur l’espèce sont la peste de l’écrevisse, causée par l’oomycète Aphanomyces astaci, et les écrevisses nord-américaines introduites qui agissent comme porteurs de cette maladie. En Finlande, l’écrevisse à pattes rouges est considérée comme une espèce indigène, dont l’aire de répartition d’origine couvre la partie sud du pays, mais la répartition de l’espèce a été étendue et couvre presque tout le pays. Le but de cette étude était d’étudier la diversité génétique parmi les populations finlandaises d’écrevisses à pattes rouges. Le gène mitochondrial du cytochrome oxydase I (COI) de 742 écrevisses a été séquencé, représentant 59 populations de Finlande et d’Estonie. Finalement, un seul haplotype a été trouvé. Basé sur ce résultat, la diversité génétique de l’écrevisse à pattes rouges dans son aire de distribution septentrionale est remarquablement faible. Le manque obse