Genetic evidence for the uncoupling of local aquaculture activities and a population of an invasive species – a case study of Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas)

Human-mediated introduction of non-native species into coastal areas via aquaculture is one of the main pathways that can lead to biological invasions. To develop strategies to counteract invasions it is critical to determine whether populations establishing in the wild are self-sustaining or based on repeated introductions. Invasions by the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) have been associated with the growing oyster aquaculture industry worldwide. In this study, temporal genetic variability of farmed and wild oysters from the largest enclosed bay in Ireland was assessed to reconstruct the recent biological history of the feral populations using seven anonymous and seven microsatellites linked to expressed sequence tags (ESTs). There was no evidence of EST-linked markers showing footprints of selection. Allelic richness was higher in feral than in aquaculture samples (p=0.003, paired t-test). Significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) due to heterozygote deficiencie...