| SS4.02 Ecology and Physiology of Marine Organisms: Insights from Genes, Genomes, and Proteomes |
| Puebla, O, , McGill University, Montreal, Canada, oscar.puebla@mail.mcgill.ca |
| Sévigny, J, M, Maurice Lamontagne Institute, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Mont Joli, Canada, sevignyjm@dfo-mpo.gc.ca |
| Sainte-Marie, B, , Maurice Lamontagne Institute, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Mont Joli, Canada, sainte-marieb@dfo-mpo.gc.ca |
| Brêthes, J, C, University of Quebec at Rimouski, Rimouski, Canada, Jean-Claude_Brethes@uqar.qc.ca |
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| POPULATION GENETIC STRUCTURE OF THE SNOW CRAB (CHIONOECETES OPILIO) AT THE NORTHWEST ATLANTIC SCALE: A CASE OF HIGH MARINE CONNECTIVITY |
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| Population genetic structure of the snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) is investigated at the Northwest Atlantic scale in an attempt to assess the degree of connectivity between populations, an important parameter for conservation purposes and the understanding of marine ecosystem dynamics. Eight microsatellite markers were analysed on 449 snow crabs sampled at one site off Greenland (GRE) and 10 sites distributed among Southern Labrador Shelf, St. Lawrence Gulf and Lower Estuary, Eastern Newfoundland Shelf and Eastern Scotian Shelf (“St. Lawrence-Atlantic” sites, SLA). GRE is highly significantly differentiated from all SLA samples and there are no significant differences among SLA samples (global Fst estimate including GRE = 0.0066, P < 0.0001). These results are consistent with geographical position of samples and C. opilio distribution in the Northwest Atlantic. They are nevertheless not trivial given the geographical scale considered (150-4500 km) and C. opilio’s 3-5 months pelagic larval stage. Genetic data and oceanic circulation patterns in the Northwest Atlantic support the hypothesis that C. opilio “upstream” populations (e.g. Labrador) constitute a source of larvae for “downstream” populations (e.g. Eastern Scotian Shelf). |
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