The future of endangered crayfish in light of protected areas and habitat fragmentation.

摘要: The long-term survival of a species requires, among other things, gene flow between populations. Approaches for the evaluation fragmentation in frame freshwater habitats consider only small amount information that combined demography and geography are currently able to provide. This study addresses two Austropotamobius crayfish light population genetics, spatial ecology protected areas Carpathians. Advancing classical approaches, we defined ecological distances upon rasterised river network as surrogate habitat resistance migration, quantifying deviations from species´ suitability range set relevant geospatial variables each cell network. Molecular analyses revealed populations clearly distinct, lacking hybridisation. Comparing pairs populations, found, some cases, strong disagreement regarding genetic distances, potentially due human-mediated translocations or geophysical phenomena regressive erosion, which may have led unexpected colonisation routes. Protected were found offer appropriate local conditions but failed ensure connectivity. methodology applied this allowed us quantify contribution (environmental) variable overall effect fragmentation, water quality was most important variable. A multilevel approach proved reveal better understanding drivers behind distribution patterns, can lead more adequate conservation measures.