Journal article

Publication year: 2019

Pages: 31-49

Journal: Hydrobiologia

Volume number: 843

Issue number: 1

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-018-3666-0

Publisher: Springer

Abstract: 

Lake Lanao on Mindanao island is the largest freshwater lake in the Philippines and may represent one of the few ancient lakes in Southeast Asia. This lake's fauna is best known for its endemic cyprinid fishes that have been nearly driven to extinction through various anthropogenic actions. In contrast, only little is known about Lake Lanao's invertebrate fauna and its placement within related Southeast Asian taxa. We here focus on the diversity in freshwater molluscs, particularly the morphologically diverse viviparid gastropods, and provide first genetic insights into this group in order to test whether the morphological variability observed is also reflected by corresponding genetic variation. Mitochondrial sequence data indicate that these viviparids form a monophyletic group comprising morphologically distinct and partly genetically different (morpho)species. Both the high diversity found in cyprinid fishes and viviparid gastropods together with the geological and tectonic evolution of Mindanao suggest that Lake Lanao may have originated more than 100,000 years ago and is thus indeed an ancient lake. However, its fauna is under continuous threat not least from the introduction of non-native species, and the development and implementation of sustainable conservation strategies is direly needed.

Harvard Citation style: Stelbrink, B., von Rintelen, T., Albrecht, C., Clewing, C. and Naga, P. (2019) Forgotten for decades: Lake Lanao and the genetic assessment of its mollusc diversity, Hydrobiologia, 843(1), pp. 31-49. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-018-3666-0

APA Citation style: Stelbrink, B., von Rintelen, T., Albrecht, C., Clewing, C., & Naga, P. (2019). Forgotten for decades: Lake Lanao and the genetic assessment of its mollusc diversity. Hydrobiologia. 843(1), 31-49. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-018-3666-0