Abstract

In this paper we report data on the monitoring of the autochthonous freshwater crayfish in the district of Benevento (South Italy). In addition, the genetic structure of two populations (Morcone and Forchia), has been investigated by means of DNA microsallite. Genetic diversity was screened at five microsatellite loci using primers specifically developed for Austropotamobius pallipes. This study has revealed that the two populations differ genetically although they are similar morphologically. Microsatellite loci failed to be amplified in the population of Morcone. Instead, regarding the population of Forchia, all primers designed on the five microsatellite loci amplified, showing a high number of homozygotes. Such a lack of heterozygotes might be the consequence of the casual genetic drift of allelic frequencies due to the limited dimensions of the population. This result is worrying, since it is indicative of a high rate of inbreeding, as shown by the high value of FIS in the Hardy-Weinberg test. The marked genetic difference between the two populations studied here could be interpreted either as the consequence of the human introduction of the non autochthonous species, or the result of population fragmentation and genetic drift and inbreeding.

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