Genetic analysis of six sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) populations - recommendations for the plan of restitution in the Dniester River

Abstract

The aim of the present study was the genetic analysis of the Dniester population of sterlet Acipenser ruthenus and comparison of it to five other sterlet populations, in order to develop a population recovery plan. The genetic analysis of six sterlet populations from Eurasian rivers (Dniester, Dnieper, Danube, Volga, Kama and Ob) was carried out using microsatellite DNA markers. The genetic variation and genetic distance between studied populations were evaluated. Significant genetic differentiation was detected between the analyzed populations through the pairwise genetic differentiation index (Fst) test. The DA measure of genetic distance between pairs of populations indicated that the shortest genetic distance (in relation to the Dniester population) was between the Dniester and the Dnieper populations (0.184). The results obtained represent a starting point of sterlet conservation program in Dniester River.