title: Assessing the geographic scale of genetic population management with microsatellites and introns in the clam Ruditapes decussatus.
abstract: The clam Ruditapes decussatus is commercially important in southwestern Europe, suffering from population decline and hybridization with exotic Manila clam (R. philippinarum). Previous studies with intronic markers showed a genetic subdivision of the species in three races (Atlantic, West Mediterranean, and Adriatic-Aegean). However, detailed population genetic studies to help management of the main production areas in the southwest of Europe are missing. We have analyzed eight Atlantic and two Mediterranean populations from the Spanish coasts using 14 microsatellites and six intronic markers. Microsatellites confirmed the Atlantic and West Mediterranean races detected with introns and showed that genetic variability was higher in Mediterranean than in Atlantic populations. Both marker types showed that genetic differentiation of Atlantic populations was low and indicated that populations could be managed at the regional level in the case of Cantabrian and Gulf of Cadiz areas, but not in the case of Rias Baixas and the Mediterranean. This study shows the interest of including different types of markers in studies of genetic population structure of marine organisms.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioloxía Celular e Molecular Universidade da Coruña A Zapateira s/n 15071 A Coruña Spain.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arias-Pérez
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Acuicultura Torre de la Sal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas 12595 Ribera de Cabanes (Castellón) Spain.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cordero
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología Funcional Universidad de Oviedo 33006 Oviedo Spain.
authors.forename: Yaisel
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Borrell
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología Funcional Universidad de Oviedo 33006 Oviedo Spain.
authors.forename: Jose Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología Funcional Universidad de Oviedo 33006 Oviedo Spain.
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioloxía Celular e Molecular Universidade da Coruña A Zapateira s/n 15071 A Coruña Spain.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Freire
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioloxía Celular e Molecular Universidade da Coruña A Zapateira s/n 15071 A Coruña Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Insua
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Acuicultura Torre de la Sal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas 12595 Ribera de Cabanes (Castellón) Spain.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Saavedra
keywords: Bivalves; Ruditapes decussatus; genetic differentiation; genetic variability; marine genetic resources; population genetics