Abstract
The aim of this project is to study the molecular diversity, intraspecific phylogeny and distribution history of three freshwater mollusc species, endemic to the Carpathian-Pannonian biogeographical region. The different patterns of their recent distribution reflect probably to their different biogeographical past and associated to different intraspecific molecular variability, therefore, the three species are usable as model species of the different distribution types. The main basic research questions are: - Can we justify the taxonomic distinctness of Theodoxus prevostianus by examining nuclear gene fragments and how can we reasonably explain the paraphyly of the T. prevostianus - T. danubialis mitochondrial gene-tree? - How large is the intraspecific molecular diversity of Bythinella pannonica, where are the 'hot spots' of this diversity, are there divergent intraspecific lineages and what kind of distribution pattern do they show? - What are the systematic positions of the Bythinella hungarica and Bythinella molcsanyi taxa within the Bythinella austriaca species complex? This research is the continuation of a conservation genetic and molecular phylogenetic research on Hungarian mollusc species of high conservation concern, which was launched in 2005 by the Hungarian Natural History Museum and it has some connecting points to current international projects. Introducing a graduate student into conservation biology and molecular phylogenetics contributes to the growth of the research community. Considering that two of the species are of high conservation significance in Europe, the outcomes of the project will be applicable in practical conservation biology as well.
Hungary