Genetic differentiation of populations of Baikal endemic Sergentia baicalensis Tshern. (Diptera, Chironomidae)

The population structure of endemic species Sergentia baicalensis Tshern. (Diptera, Chironomidae) from Lake Baikal was studied using the first subunit of the cytochrome c oxidase mitochondrial gene (CO1). Two populations inhabiting different basins of this lake, the southern-central and northern, were detected. It was confirmed that the divergence time of this species was dated to Late Miocene (9.53 ± 3.9 Mya), during the period when geographically separated basins existed in the Baikal rift zone.