title: Molecular identification, phylogeny and geographic distribution of Brazilian mangrove oysters (Crassostrea).
abstract: Oysters (Ostreidae) manifest a high degree of phenotypic plasticity, whereby morphology is of limited value for species identification and taxonomy. By using molecular data, the aim was to genetically characterize the species of Crassostrea occurring along the Brazilian coast, and phylogenetically relate these to other Crassostrea from different parts of the world. Sequencing of the partial cytochrome oxidase c subunit I gene (COI), revealed a total of three species of Crassostrea at 16 locations along the Brazilian coast. C. gasar was found from Curuçá (Pará state) to Santos (São Paulo state), and C. rhizophorae from Fortim (Ceará state) to Florianópolis (Santa Catarina state), although small individuals of the latter species were also found at Ajuruteua beach (municipality of Bragança, Pará state). An unidentified Crassostrea species was found only on Canela Island, Bragança. Crassostrea gasar and C. rhizophorae grouped with C. virginica, thereby forming a monophyletic Atlantic group, whereas Crassostrea sp. from Canela Island was shown to be more similar to Indo-Pacific oysters, and either arrived in the Atlantic Ocean before the convergence of the Isthmus of Panama or was accidentally brought to Brazil by ship.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Conservação e Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto de Estudos Costeiros, Campus de Bragança, Universidade Federal do Pará, Bragança, PA Brazil.
authors.forename: Aline Grasielle Costa
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: de Melo
authors.forename: Eduardo Sousa
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Varela
authors.forename: Colin Robert
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Beasley
authors.forename: Horacio
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Iracilda
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sampaio
authors.forename: Patrick Michael
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Gaffney
authors.forename: Kimberly S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Reece
authors.forename: Claudia Helena
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Tagliaro