Assessing the genetic diversity of the mangrove oyster <i>Crassostrea rhizophorae</i> (Bivalvia, Ostreidae) by microsatellite markers in southeastern Brazil

<div><p></p><p>Oysters of the genus <i>Crassostrea</i> are an economically important resource occurring along the Brazilian coast, mainly in estuarine regions. Inter- and intra-population genetic diversity is essential for monitoring long-term genetic changes and for sustainable use of this bivalve by coastal fishing communities. Microsatellite markers were used to evaluate the genetic diversity of natural populations of the mangrove oyster <i>Crassostrea rhizophorae</i> in southeastern Brazil. Samples of 150 oysters from four areas were analyzed. Microsatellite loci were obtained from an enriched microsatellite library. The genetic structure was evaluated using an index of genetic differentiation described previously. The effective population size and rate of gene flow were estimated through a maximum likelihood coalescent approach using Migrate. The mean number of alleles ranged from 10 to 21 and the expected heterozygosity from 0.89 to 0.91. Evidence of a possible bottleneck effect under three mutational models was found. The <i>D</i>_est index indicated low to moderate differentiation among sample locales. Coalescent analysis showed variation in effective population size and asymmetry in the gene flow among samples. Levels of genetic variability and differentiation found among <i>C. rhizophorae</i> populated banks have important implications for the sustainable harvest, cultivation and conservation of this marine resource in the studied area.</p>