Trans-Atlantic distribution of a mangrove oyster species revealed by 16S mtDNA and karyological analyses

Type Article
Date 2002-06
Language English
Author(s) Lapegue SylvieORCID, Boutet Isabelle, Leitao Alexandra, Heurtebise Serge, Garcia P, Thiriot Quievreux C, Boudry PierreORCID
Affiliation(s) IFREMER, Lab Genet & Pathol, F-17390 La Tremblade, France.
Inst Mer & Littoral, Lab Biol & Environm Marins, F-17000 La Rochelle, France.
INSU, CNRS, UPMC, Observ Oceanol, F-06230 Villefranche Sur Mer, France.
Source Biological Bulletin (0006-3185), 2002-06 , Vol. 202 , N. 3 , P. 232-242
WOS© Times Cited 75
Keyword(s) Mangrove oyster, Crassostrea gasar, Karyotype, Phylogeography, 16S mitochondrial DNA
Abstract Three species of man.-rove oysters, Crassostrea rhizophorae, C. brasiliana, and C. gasar, have been described along the Atlantic shores of South America and Africa. Because the distribution of these molluscs is of great biological and commercial interest, their taxonomy and distribution deserve further clarification. Therefore, 15 populations were sampled from both continents. Their 16S mitochondrial polymorphism was studied by sequencing and PCR-RFLP analysis. Two haplotypes were identified. Haplotype a was the only one observed in Africa, but it was also observed in South America together with haplotype b. Because C. gasar is the only mangrove oyster identified on the west coast of Africa, haplotype a was attributed to this species, which has thus been shown to occur in South America. Haplotype b is attributed to C. rhizophorae. The karyotypes of specimens of C. gasar, from Africa and from South America, were very similar, and both species were observed at the same location in Brazil. The occurrence of C. gasar in South America adds a third species-in addition to C rhizophorae and C. brasiliana-to the list of species present along these coasts. The predominant surface circulation patterns in this part of the Atlantic Ocean favor the hypothesis that C. gasar was transported from Africa to America. Finally, a phylogenetic tree built with seven 16S sequences from Crassostrea and Saccostrea species showed that C. gasar is intermediate between the American Crassostrea species (C virginica and C. rhizophorae) and the Asian species (C. gigas and C ariakensis).
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Lapegue Sylvie, Boutet Isabelle, Leitao Alexandra, Heurtebise Serge, Garcia P, Thiriot Quievreux C, Boudry Pierre (2002). Trans-Atlantic distribution of a mangrove oyster species revealed by 16S mtDNA and karyological analyses. Biological Bulletin, 202(3), 232-242. Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/2790/