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Genetic diversity of populations of Merodon aureus and M. cinereus species complexes (Diptera, Syrphidae): integrative taxonomy and implications for conservation priorities on the Balkan Peninsula

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Abstract

The genetic structure of 10 populations of the Merodon aureus group from the Balkan Peninsula was examined through allozyme electrophoresis and mitochondrial DNA sequencing of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI). Six diagnosable cryptic taxa were identified within the morphologically defined species M. aureus Fabricius, 1805 and M. cinereus (Fabricius, 1794), with clear separation of the populations (((M. aureus A + M. aureus B) + cinereus complex) + M. aureus C). The parsimony analysis of COI sequence data of the aureus–cinereus complex using Merodon avidus A species as an outgroup resulted in two main clades, (M. aureus A + M. aureus B) and ((M. aureus C + M. cinereus B + M. cinereus C) + M. cinereus A), which differed on average by 5.7%. The observed spatial distribution of the taxonomic diversity of the group suggested that these taxa originated from a common ancestral population in the Mediterranean. Identification of genetic uniqueness and genetic endemism emphasizes the importance of molecular markers and estimation of genetic diversity in recognition of conservation units. The primary goals of the conservation measures that we propose are the protection of phylogenetic lineages within the highly diverse M. aureus group taxa and conservation of the genetic variation through management of important areas.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Jasmina Ludoski for her help with the technical matters. This work was supported in part by the Ministry of Science and Environmental Protection of Serbia, Grant Number 143006B, the Provincial Secretariat for Science and Technological Development (Maintenance of biodiversity – “Hot spots” on the Balkan and Iberian Peninsula) and the Carl Cedercreutz Foundation (Helsinki, Finland).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology and Ecology, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2, Novi Sad, 21000, Serbia

    Vesna Milankov, Jelena Stamenković & Ante Vujić

  2. Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, PO Box 17, Helsinki, 00014, Finland

    Gunilla Ståhls

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  1. Vesna Milankov
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  2. Gunilla Ståhls
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  3. Jelena Stamenković
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  4. Ante Vujić
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Correspondence to Vesna Milankov.

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Milankov, V., Ståhls, G., Stamenković, J. et al. Genetic diversity of populations of Merodon aureus and M. cinereus species complexes (Diptera, Syrphidae): integrative taxonomy and implications for conservation priorities on the Balkan Peninsula. Conserv Genet 9, 1125–1137 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-007-9426-8

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