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Mollusc biodiversity in a European ancient lake system: lakes Prespa and Mikri Prespa in the Balkans

  • SPECIATION IN ANCIENT LAKES
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Abstract

The spatial distribution of (endemic) biodiversity in ancient and potentially ancient lakes in Europe is poorly understood. Examples include Lakes Prespa and Mikri Prespa in the Central Balkans. Utilizing information of the most species-rich taxon in these lakes, the Mollusca, we therefore attempt to statistically assess and visualize the spatial distribution of biodiversity, to analyse biogeographical patterns, and to carry out a conservation assessment. We estimate that at least 40 (sub)species (29 gastropod and 11 bivalve taxa) occur in the lakes. For both lakes combined, 37.5% of the mollusc taxa are endemic. In general, the mollusc richness in Lake Mikri Prespa is lower than in Lake Prespa and less heterogeneously distributed. The highest species richness can be seen on the western and south eastern shores of Lake Prespa. Based on the presence/absence of genera, a minimum spanning tree analysis supports the sister lake relationship of both lakes, which, in turn, are most closely related to lakes in the western Balkans and not to nearby Lake Ohrid. The IUCN red list assessment revealed (A) a tendency towards mollusc faunal change, (B) a contemporary decline and potential loss of mollusc diversity, and (C) that all endemic species are of conservation concern.

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Acknowledgments

Our work has benefited immensely from the support of our colleagues at the Hydrobiological Institute Ohrid. Particularly G. Kostoski and S. Trajanovski are gratefully acknowledged. D. Georgiev generously supported our field work. T. Kevrekidis and A. Mogias perfectly organized field work in Greece. Many thanks go to our enthusiastic students who joined us during various field trips. We profited from discussions about the Prespa malacofauna with Z. Feher and P. Reischütz. M. Seddon and A. Cuttelod helped with the IUCN threat assessment and we thank them very much for introducing us to this issue. N. Hoffmann kindly helped with the geological maps. The comments of two reviewers and K. Martens improved an earlier version of the manuscript.

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  1. Department of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32 (IFZ), 35392, Giessen, Germany

    Christian Albrecht, Torsten Hauffe, Kirstin Schreiber & Thomas Wilke

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  1. Christian Albrecht
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Correspondence to Christian Albrecht.

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Guest editors: C. Sturmbauer, C. Albrecht, S. Trajanovski & T. Wilke / Evolution and Biodiversity in Ancient Lakes

Electronic supplementary material

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Online Resource 1 contains species lists for Lake Prespa and Lake Mikri Prespa (PDF 64 kb)

10750_2011_830_MOESM2_ESM.pdf

Online Resource 2 contains photographs of the Prespa lakes, their habitats, and endemic mollusc as well as a figure showing water level loss, habitat changes and threats to the Prespa lakes (PDF 504 kb)

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Albrecht, C., Hauffe, T., Schreiber, K. et al. Mollusc biodiversity in a European ancient lake system: lakes Prespa and Mikri Prespa in the Balkans. Hydrobiologia 682, 47–59 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-011-0830-1

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