Genetic structure at different spatial scales in the pearl oyster (Pinctada margaritifera cumingii) in French Polynesian lagoons: beware of sampling strategy and genetic patchiness

Type Article
Date 2008-08
Language English
Author(s) Arnaud-Haond SophieORCID1, Vonau Vincent1, Rouxel Catherine1, Bonhomme Francois3, Prou JeanORCID1, Goyard Emmanuel1, Boudry PierreORCID2
Affiliation(s) 1 : IFREMER, Ctr Pacifique, Lab Aquaculture Tropicale, F-98719 Tahiti, French Polynesi, France.
2 : IFREMER, Lab Genet & Pathol, F-17390 La Tremblade, France.
3 : ISEM, Dept Integrat Biol, UMR 5554, Stn Mediterraneenne Environm Littoral, F-34200 Sete, France.
Source Marine Biology (0025-3162) (Springer), 2008-08 , Vol. 155 , N. 2 , P. 147-157
DOI 10.1007/s00227-008-1013-0
WOS© Times Cited 52
Keyword(s) population genetics, Polynesia, bivalve, pearl oyster, benthic organisms, sampling strategy, genetic patchiness
Abstract In order to study further the genetic structure of the pearl oyster Pinctada margaritifera in French Polynesia with a special consideration for the sampling scale, we analyzed or re-analyzed sets of data based on nuclear DNA markers obtained at different spatial scales. At a large scale (several 1,000 km), the remote Marquesas Islands were confirmed to be significantly differentiated from Tuamotu-Gambier and Society archipelagos, with a marked difference however for the two main islands that are different from each other. At a medium scale (several 10 to several 100 km), overall homogeneity was observed within and between these two archipelagos, with some exceptions. This could be attributed both to large-scale larval dispersal and to human-driven spat translocations due to pearl oyster cultivation. These results contrast with those observed (1) at a small scale (less than 10 km) in a lagoon heavily impacted by translocation and cultural practices, where significant genetic differentiation was detected among three laying beds, and (2) at a micro scale where we detected an important variability of the genetic composition of young spat recruited on artificial collectors. Such patterns could result from a high variance in the number of genitors at the origin of each cohort, or from pre- or post-settlement selection on linked loci. Altogether, our data support the hypothesis that under certain conditions populations of bivalves may exhibit patterns of chaotic genetic patchiness at local scale, in line with the increasing report of such patchiness in marine benthic organisms. This underlines the importance of sampling scale that should be rigorously defined depending on the questions to be answered. Nevertheless, a survey of about 80 articles dealing with population genetics of marine invertebrates showed that only 35% of those studies disclosed details about the sampling strategy (particularly the area explored). These results emphasize the need for cautious interpretation of patterns of genetic structure at medium scale when rigorous sampling strategies are not deployed.
Full Text
File Pages Size Access
publication-4960.pdf 36 171 KB Open access
Top of the page

How to cite 

Arnaud-Haond Sophie, Vonau Vincent, Rouxel Catherine, Bonhomme Francois, Prou Jean, Goyard Emmanuel, Boudry Pierre (2008). Genetic structure at different spatial scales in the pearl oyster (Pinctada margaritifera cumingii) in French Polynesian lagoons: beware of sampling strategy and genetic patchiness. Marine Biology, 155(2), 147-157. Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-008-1013-0 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/4960/