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Email the author (Login required) Genetic population structure of the pleasure oyster Crassostrea corteziensis (Hertlein, 1951) on the east coast of the Gulf of California
Submited: 2024-06-20 15:31:44 | Published: 2025-04-30 20:11:46
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3856/vol53-issue2-fulltext-3298
Abstract
The pleasure oyster, Crassostrea corteziensis, is an endemic species with high demand in northwestern México. Its incipient fishery with reduced captures makes it a good candidate for implementing management strategies to improve natural stocks and aquaculture practices. In this study, genetic diversity and population structure of C. corteziensis from four locations on the east coast of the Gulf of California (Bahía Lobos at Sonora, Las Glorias and Bahía de Ceuta at Sinaloa, and Boca de Camichín at Nayarit) were examined. Analysis with six microsatellites showed a high genetic diversity; however, null alleles were detected in almost all locations. After excluding null alleles and the locus Ccor21, a non-panmictic population of C. corteziensis was found along the coastline of the study area. Several factors could be contributing to restricted genetic connectivity among locations in the region without clear isolation by distance pattern, like random genetic drift maintained by larval retention, variance in reproductive success, asymmetric and restricted gene flow, and probably departures in the sex ratio from 1:1 and differences in the habitat and local adaptations to environmental conditions within each location.
