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Abstract.
Genetic diversity of three pure populations of Cobitis elongatoides from hydrologically and geographically different drainage areas, the Luznice River (48.49.60 N, 14.55.60 E, Labe River drainage area, North Sea basin), the Nová Ríse reservoir (49.09.11 N, 15.32.464 E, Morava River drainage area, Black Sea basin), and the Ida River (48.32.284 N, 21.03.421 E, Tisza River drainage area, Black Sea basin) was evaluated by sequencing of mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Species identification of unknown Cobitis samples from Vipava River drainage area in Slovenia was also performed based on cytochrome b sequence. All forms of the genus Cobitis are protected by national legislatives and, in accordance with the Council Directive No. 925/43/EEC, they enjoy protection in selected localities of European importance. In total, 11 haplotypes of Cobitis elongatoides were found in Czech and Slovak waters, manifesting low overall genetic diversity. Samples from Vipava River drainage area were identified as Cobitis bilineata.
Key words: Danubian spined loach, population diversity
Introduction
Intensive research of members of Cobitidae family in the last 20 years brought many crucial findings, which radically changed original insights of both species and intraspecies structure (Va s i Fe v a 2000, Bohlen & Ráb 2001, Boron et al. 2006). As was shown by researches presented during 3rd conference "Loaches of the genus Cobitis and related genera", held in September 2006 in Sibenik, Croatia, the research potential of this family has not run out yet.
Territories of the Czech Republic and Slovakia territories lie on a water-divide of three or two basins, respectively (North S., Baltic S. and Black S.). Previous studies have proved that in contrary to original assumptions, which classified populations in Czech and Slovakian waters as Cobitis taenia Linnaeus, 1758 (Holcik 1995), in fact it is Cobitis elongatoides Bacescu et Maier, 1969 and populations of hybrids with other species (Lusk et al. 2000, Rab et al. 2000, Slechtova et al. 2000). In a territory of the Czech Republic in Luznice R. drainage area (basin Vltava-Labe, North Sea) and in the upper part of Dyje R. drainage area (basin Morava-Danube, Black Sea) occur populations of pure species of C. elongatoides. In middle and lower parts of the Dyje R. and in the Morava R. drainage areas occur populations of hybrid diploid-polyploid...