Population genetics of European anodontinae (Bivalvia: Unionidae)

Abstract

Enzyme electrophoresis was used to steady population genetics and molecular differentiation of European Anodontinae. The existence of two genera (Anodonta Lamarck 1799 and Pseudanodonta Bourguignat 1876) is supported by the number of diagnostic loci (4) and Nei's D > 0.463 in all cases. In western and central Europe there are two species of Anodonta, A. anatina (Linnaeus 1758) and A. cygnea (Linnaeus 1758) while two other taxa of still uncertain rank were identified in the Mediterranean area. An estimated medium level of gene flow and pronounced genetic differentiation between the taxa support this view. Data on genetic distances suggest that the diversification of European Anodontinae took place in the middle-late Pleistocene.