Variability of microsatellite markers in Helicopsis (Gastropoda; Pulmonata) steppe mollusks in the southern Central Russian upland

The snails of the genus Helicopsis belong to steppe species, many of which are listed in the protected lists of European countries. In this work, based on the sequencing of the COX1 mitochondrial gene, the species belonging to eight populations of snails from the genus Helicopsis living in the south of the Central Russian Upland have been identified. These populations were assigned to H. lunulata, H. filimargo, and H. hungarica, and the average genetic distance between them was 0.11±0.01. Next, we analyzed the variability of seven microsatellite (STR) loci developed by us for H. lunulata in one population of H. filimargo, one population of H. hungarica and five populations of H. lunulata in the south of the Central Russian Upland. Both loci specific to H. lunulata and universal for all studied species have been identified. In H. lunulata, six STR loci turned out to be polymorphic and had from 2 to 11 alleles per locus. A total of 28 alleles were identified at all loci in H. lunulata, 14 of which were private and did not occur in more than one population. Molecular Dispersion Analysis (AMOVA) confirmed the high genetic differentiation of H. lunulata populations (Fst=0,425). At the same time, the genetic diversity of H. lunulata in the study area based on STR loci turned out to be higher than in the case of using allozyme loci. The structure of genetic variability calculated on the basis of STR loci turned out to be less pronounced compared to the use of allozyme loci as genetic markers (Fst=0,700). All this confirms the greater selective neutrality and greater diversity of microsatellite loci compared to allozymes. The data obtained can be used to assess the genetic diversity of H. lunulata. populations.