Cryptic genetic divergence in the giant Tasmanian freshwater crayfish Astacopsis gouldi (Decapoda: Parastacidae): implications for conservation

The giant Tasmanian freshwater crayfish Astacopsis gouldi prized by fisherman, is the world's largest freshwater invertebrate. Astacopsis gouldi is known only from river drainages in northern Tasmania. A narrow distribution, pollution of habitat and over-harvesting has led to the rapid decline...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Animal conservation 2011-02, Vol.14 (1), p.87-97
Main Authors: Sinclair, E.A, Madsen, A, Walsh, T, Nelson, J, Crandall, K.A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Astacopsis gouldi
Cambaridae
conservation genetics
cryptic lineage
Decapoda
Evolution
Freshwater
gene flow
Genetic diversity
Marine
Mitochondrial DNA
Parastacidae
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Summary:The giant Tasmanian freshwater crayfish Astacopsis gouldi prized by fisherman, is the world's largest freshwater invertebrate. Astacopsis gouldi is known only from river drainages in northern Tasmania. A narrow distribution, pollution of habitat and over-harvesting has led to the rapid decline of populations and subsequent loss from a number of drainages. We collected mitochondrial DNA sequences to assess population structure and genetic diversity from throughout the species' distribution. We found a lineage from north-eastern Tasmania, which was genetically divergent compared with the remaining distribution in north-western Tasmania. Populations from the remaining distribution, including haplotypes found across a noted faunal barrier (Tamar River), were genetically homogeneous with
ISSN:1367-9430
1469-1795
DOI:10.1111/j.1469-1795.2010.00395.x