Lake Ohrid is a major European biodiversity hotspot situated in a trans-frontier setting on the Balkans, is a prime example for a lake with a magnitude of narrow range endemic taxa that are under increasing anthropogenic pressure. One of the iconic species of this lake is its endemic trout Salmo letnica (Koran). Despite the common narrative, the lake does not have only one species of this fish but at least four. Currently, there are four populations of Koran that have different spawning periods that hint at distinct species. Clarification of this hypothesis does not have only academic value because if proved correct, it will have direct and practical repercussions in the management of biodiversity in this ecosystem.
The project will make use of modern DNA analysis to identify these species. The study will be carried out in collaboration with a team from the University of Sasari, Italy