High Genetic Diversity of <i>Hirudo verbana</i> Carena, 1820 (Annelida: Hirudinea: Hirudinidae) in Romania Confirms That the Balkans Are Refugia Within Refugium
This study presents the first data on the distribution of the Mediterranean medicinal leech <i>Hirudo verbana</i> in Romania, as well as the first molecular characterization of the Romanian populations, using mitochondrial DNA markers. In total, 133 specimens from 19 populations in Roman...
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2024-11-01
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| author | Oana Paula Popa Andrei Ștefan Emanuel Ștefan Baltag Ana Alexandra Stratan Luis Ovidiu Popa Victor Surugiu |
| author_facet | Oana Paula Popa Andrei Ștefan Emanuel Ștefan Baltag Ana Alexandra Stratan Luis Ovidiu Popa Victor Surugiu |
| author_sort | Oana Paula Popa |
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| description | This study presents the first data on the distribution of the Mediterranean medicinal leech <i>Hirudo verbana</i> in Romania, as well as the first molecular characterization of the Romanian populations, using mitochondrial DNA markers. In total, 133 specimens from 19 populations in Romania were surveyed for mitochondrial COI and 12S markers. Available GenBank sequences from other localities throughout Europe were included to place the Romanian populations in a broader phylogeographical context. The Romanian <i>H. verbana</i> samples belong to 23 COI haplotypes, 4 of which are previously known from Serbia and Ukraine, while 19 haplotypes are herein reported for the first time. For 12S, the number of haplotypes identified was 12, from which only 5 are unique to Romania. The Romanian <i>H. verbana</i> cluster within the previously reported eastern phylogroup, known to occur from Serbia to North Caucasus, Turkey, and Uzbekistan. The mismatch distribution analysis and the results of neutrality tests suggest that the Romanian <i>H. verbana</i> currently undergoes a population dispersal. This study also revealed that the lower Danube basin is a hotspot of genetic diversity of <i>H. verbana</i>, where different lineages from the Balkan and Anatolian glacial refugia mixed in the postglacial period. Species Distribution Models (SDMs) indicated that the main ecological variables influencing the current distribution of <i>H. verbana</i> are wetland coverage and elevation. Following the IUCN Red List categories and criteria, the present conservation status of the Mediterranean medicinal leech <i>H. verbana</i> in Romania was assessed as Vulnerable (VU). Our study contributes towards a more refined understanding of the genetic diversity of <i>H. verbana</i> and of the factors that led to its current geographical distribution in Romania and Europe. |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-031581274c01410f85a646081ad64b782024-12-27T14:21:28ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182024-11-01161272610.3390/d16120726High Genetic Diversity of <i>Hirudo verbana</i> Carena, 1820 (Annelida: Hirudinea: Hirudinidae) in Romania Confirms That the Balkans Are Refugia Within RefugiumOana Paula Popa0Andrei Ștefan1Emanuel Ștefan Baltag2Ana Alexandra Stratan3Luis Ovidiu Popa4Victor Surugiu5Muzeul Național de Istorie Naturală “Grigore Antipa”, Şos. Kiseleff No. 1, 011341 Bucharest, RomaniaMuzeul Național de Istorie Naturală “Grigore Antipa”, Şos. Kiseleff No. 1, 011341 Bucharest, RomaniaMarine Biological Station “Prof. Dr. Ioan Borcea” Agigea, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași, 907015 Agigea, RomaniaMuzeul Național de Istorie Naturală “Grigore Antipa”, Şos. Kiseleff No. 1, 011341 Bucharest, RomaniaMuzeul Național de Istorie Naturală “Grigore Antipa”, Şos. Kiseleff No. 1, 011341 Bucharest, RomaniaFaculty of Biology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași, B-dul Carol I, No. 20A, 700507 Iaşi, RomaniaThis study presents the first data on the distribution of the Mediterranean medicinal leech <i>Hirudo verbana</i> in Romania, as well as the first molecular characterization of the Romanian populations, using mitochondrial DNA markers. In total, 133 specimens from 19 populations in Romania were surveyed for mitochondrial COI and 12S markers. Available GenBank sequences from other localities throughout Europe were included to place the Romanian populations in a broader phylogeographical context. The Romanian <i>H. verbana</i> samples belong to 23 COI haplotypes, 4 of which are previously known from Serbia and Ukraine, while 19 haplotypes are herein reported for the first time. For 12S, the number of haplotypes identified was 12, from which only 5 are unique to Romania. The Romanian <i>H. verbana</i> cluster within the previously reported eastern phylogroup, known to occur from Serbia to North Caucasus, Turkey, and Uzbekistan. The mismatch distribution analysis and the results of neutrality tests suggest that the Romanian <i>H. verbana</i> currently undergoes a population dispersal. This study also revealed that the lower Danube basin is a hotspot of genetic diversity of <i>H. verbana</i>, where different lineages from the Balkan and Anatolian glacial refugia mixed in the postglacial period. Species Distribution Models (SDMs) indicated that the main ecological variables influencing the current distribution of <i>H. verbana</i> are wetland coverage and elevation. Following the IUCN Red List categories and criteria, the present conservation status of the Mediterranean medicinal leech <i>H. verbana</i> in Romania was assessed as Vulnerable (VU). Our study contributes towards a more refined understanding of the genetic diversity of <i>H. verbana</i> and of the factors that led to its current geographical distribution in Romania and Europe.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/16/12/726medicinal leeches<i>Hirudo verbana</i>species distribution modelinghabitatgenetic diversityphylogeography |
| spellingShingle | Oana Paula Popa Andrei Ștefan Emanuel Ștefan Baltag Ana Alexandra Stratan Luis Ovidiu Popa Victor Surugiu High Genetic Diversity of <i>Hirudo verbana</i> Carena, 1820 (Annelida: Hirudinea: Hirudinidae) in Romania Confirms That the Balkans Are Refugia Within Refugium Diversity medicinal leeches <i>Hirudo verbana</i> species distribution modeling habitat genetic diversity phylogeography |
| title | High Genetic Diversity of <i>Hirudo verbana</i> Carena, 1820 (Annelida: Hirudinea: Hirudinidae) in Romania Confirms That the Balkans Are Refugia Within Refugium |
| title_full | High Genetic Diversity of <i>Hirudo verbana</i> Carena, 1820 (Annelida: Hirudinea: Hirudinidae) in Romania Confirms That the Balkans Are Refugia Within Refugium |
| title_fullStr | High Genetic Diversity of <i>Hirudo verbana</i> Carena, 1820 (Annelida: Hirudinea: Hirudinidae) in Romania Confirms That the Balkans Are Refugia Within Refugium |
| title_full_unstemmed | High Genetic Diversity of <i>Hirudo verbana</i> Carena, 1820 (Annelida: Hirudinea: Hirudinidae) in Romania Confirms That the Balkans Are Refugia Within Refugium |
| title_short | High Genetic Diversity of <i>Hirudo verbana</i> Carena, 1820 (Annelida: Hirudinea: Hirudinidae) in Romania Confirms That the Balkans Are Refugia Within Refugium |
| title_sort | high genetic diversity of i hirudo verbana i carena 1820 annelida hirudinea hirudinidae in romania confirms that the balkans are refugia within refugium |
| topic | medicinal leeches <i>Hirudo verbana</i> species distribution modeling habitat genetic diversity phylogeography |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/16/12/726 |
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