Identidade e diversidade genética de espécies de ostras nativas no Estado de Sergipe

Abstract

Oyster farming is a fishing activity that has been showing growth among the years to supply Brazil´s commercial demand. In Brazilian estuaries, two native oysters represent most of this type of mollusk population: Crassostra rhizophorae and Crassostrea brasiliana. Due to their great resemblance and also for sharing the same ecological traits, the lack of morphological distinction in between the two species do complicate the visual identification. Hence, genetic analysis is mandatory to distinguish them. Owing to fishing industry, it is crucial to identify accurately cultivated oysters aiming productivity growth, also providing sustainable and responsible use of natural resources. The transference of one organism to another habitat, under economic purposes, may trigger several hazards to the ecosystem; therefore it must be ensured that there is gene flow between the two locations to avoid such ecological damages. To do this, an analysis of DNA haplotypes may be used among the samples to estimate genetic structure. This research used DNA samples extracted from the adductor muscle of the shell of 180 oysters gathered at three estuaries of Sergipe: São Francisco, Vaza Barris and Piauí-Real. Levels of genetic variability were determined through amplification of two mitochondrial genes: 16S, for the species identification, and cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI), for genetic identity and population diversity. Of the 156 analyzed oysters, 49 were identified as C. rhizophorae and 107 as C. brasiliana. The two species co-occurred in all three examined estuaries. C. brasiliana is more frequent in lower salinity waters and next to oyster farming sites. Molecular marker COI delivered the same polymorphism levels for both species, and 14 haplotypes for C. rhizophorae, 12 haplotypes for C. brasiliana. AMOVA analysis detects the absence of geographical structuring in both species´ populations due to the low FST value. According to the acquired data, it can be stated that there is gene flow in high levels between populations of the two native oyster species at the analyzed estuaries. The higher genetic diversity for C. brasiliana is situated on Piauí-Real estuary. It may be related to the North-South direction of ocean currents in this region, which favors the migration of larvae to South estuaries, on the other hand it hinders the flow of unique haplotypes of Piauí-Real estuary to others located to the North. Moreover, the higher diversity for C. rhizophorae was detected in Vaza Barris river, due to the absence of any oyster farming sites in this estuary, whereas the choice of C. brasiliana for cultivation because it has better performance for commercial purposes. Thus, it can be concluded that, from a genetically speaking, the translocation of native oysters among the researched estuaries for cultivation would not affect local populations.