Phylogeography and Genetic Diversity of the Common Roach Rutilus rutilus (Leuciscidae) in Water Bodies of Belarus

Primary data on the genetic diversity and phylogeography of the roach Rutilus rutilus s. l. in Belarusian water bodies are presented. According to the sequences of two mitochondrial DNA markers (COI, Cyt b), 158 studied specimens from 16 localities in the Baltic and Black Sea basins were found to carry haplotypes of two major roach lineages previously identified by other authors. The vast majority of the studied populations harbor haplotypes of the common roach R. rutilus s. str., representing the Western European clade; however, the presence of haplotype carriers of the Ponto-Caspian clade (R. lacustris by description priority) was also noted. Further research into the genetic diversity and evolutionary history of roach in Eastern Europe is needed.