Genetic Differentiation of River Crayfish From Reservoirs of the Pripyat River Basin

Abstract

Based on the research of allozymes variability, the presence of three species of freshwater crayfish in the reservoirs of the Pripyat basin: A. astacus, A. angulosus and A. leptodactylus has been proved. It is established that the species A. astacus is genetically substantially more differentiated from narrow-clawed crayfish than A. angulosus and A. leptodactylus among themselves. This can be regard as evidence of the subfamily or possibly the generic level of differentiation of this crayfishes. The presence of clear allozymes differences between the sympatric species of narrow-clawed crayfish A. leptodactylus and A. angulosus proves their reproductive isolation and species autonomy. For the first time were analyzed the geographical distribution, abundance and biotopes dependence of species of crayfish in the Pripyat basin and neighboring territories of Ukraine. It has been established that angular crayfish more adapted to modern environmental conditions.