Molecular systematics, phylogeny and biogeography of roaches (Rutilus, Teleostei, Cyprinidae)

The aims of the present study are: (1) to produce a phylogenetic hypothesis for the genus Rutilus by using sequence variation of the entire mitochondrial (mt) cytochrome b (cyt-b) gene. To accomplish this we had sampled a total of 22 populations from the Eastern peri-Mediterranean area and Central Europe. These include 12 species (five of which with multiple populations; Fig. 1 and Table 1) out of the 14 reported in FishBase; (2) to test whether molecular data support the current systematics of the genus; and (3) to produce a biogeographic hypothesis for its diversification based on estimates of divergence times. Results will be discussed in light of the two contrasting biogeographic scenarios available for Southern European primary freshwater fishes.