摘要 : The presence of Palingenia longicauda was considered to be restricted to the Tisza River basin (sub-basin of the Danube River Basin) and the Raba River (Austria and Hungary), but new reports indicate its presence in the Danube Riv... 展开 The presence of Palingenia longicauda was considered to be restricted to the Tisza River basin (sub-basin of the Danube River Basin) and the Raba River (Austria and Hungary), but new reports indicate its presence in the Danube River (Hungary), the Danube Delta (Romania and Ukraine), and in the Prut River and the Dniester River (Republic of Moldova). We assessed the genetic diversity of the species by analysing the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (mtCOI) and large ribosomal subunit 16S rRNA (mt16S LSU) sequences of individuals from Romanian, Ukrainian, and Hungarian populations. The identified high number of endemic haplotypes that are confined to the Danube Delta and the Prut River, and the statistically significant differentiation found between the populations, suggest that the populations of these two rivers had independent histories. These results confirm the survival and recovery of Palingenia longicauda in Southeastern Europe. The species is an indicator of good ecological conditions of large rivers, therefore, this recovery may be related to the hydro-morphological integrity of the studied river sections. Large colonies of larvae were found only on near-natural steep clay banks that were under the protection of local natural parks and biodiversity reserves, close to the state borders, where human activities are more restricted. Implications for insect conservation The genetically differentiated populations from Romania can contribute to conservation and long-term survival of P. longicauda. As freshwater ecosystems are under constant anthropogenic pressure, our results lay the basis for a scientifically well-documented management of the conservation of the species in its whole range. 收起