Reproductive traits and conservation needs of the endemic gammarid Laurogammarus scutarensis () from the Skadar Lake system,Balkan Peninsula

Europe is one of the global hotspots of freshwater amphipod diversity with a number of endemic species, yet many of European freshwater ecosystems are under extreme anthropogenic pressure. Studying the biology and ecology of endemic species may substantially help to assess risk of extinction and define proxies for their conservation. Laurogammarus scutarensis is a Balkan endemic and the only species within the genus Laurogammarus G. Karaman 1984. Its distribution is restricted to temperature-stable, cool waters of the springs, streams and lower sections of a few rivers emptying to the north-western part of the Skadar Lake in Montenegro – an area under heavy anthropogenic pressure in recent years. We examined life history of the species in a limnocrene spring with year-round stable temperature (10 °C ± 0.5) by estimating its population structure over a year, fecundity, reproductive period and relationship between photoperiod and reproduction. These parameters were compared to those of other gammarids, including invasive species, in order to estimate the role of photoperiod in shaping life history of L. scutarensis, and to give insight into the possible conservation needs for that species. Our results show that the species is univoltine and its reproduction continues round the year. However, its intensity is synchronised with seasonal day length changes with the highest share of females breeding in spring and early summer. The population sex structure is strongly female biased in most of the year. Number of eggs laid depends positively on the female body length; however the mean brood size (15.53 eggs) of L. scutarensis is rather low when compared to other species. Also partial fecundity and mean body length at which individuals start to reproduce indicate that its reproductive potential is much lower than that of many other gammarid species, including those colonising many European water bodies in recent years. Concluding, the studied life history traits of L. scutarensis combined with its very narrow distribution range and peculiar thermal requirements reported in the literature provide as with the hint to define the species as vulnerable to threats posed by the habitat degradation and competition with other species. Taking into account the risk of invasion by alien species and progressive habitat loss, we are of the opinion that L. scutarensis should be recognised as an endangered species and that a conservation plan should be implemented to prevent its possible extinction.