Genetic and morphological variation in a common European cyprinid, Leuciscus cephalus within and across central European drainages

Genetic variability and differentiation of the common European cyprinid Leusciscus cephalus was investigated within and across the drainages of the rivers Rhine, Elbe and Danube using starch gel electrophoresis and morphological characters. Eleven of 24 presumptive enzyme loci showed some allozymic variation. Compared to other freshwater fish, genetic variability within all sites was high (H(c)=0.074 0.113). This was explained by the wide geographical and ecological range of the chub. In contrast, genetic and morphological differentiation between sites and drainages was low (F(ST)=0.15), which may be due to the high dispersal ability of the chub and translocations of spawn by waterfowl. The phylogeographic structure of Leuciscus cephalus in north-eastern Bavaria showed low congruence with Cottus gobio populations sampled in the same area.