Population genetic structure of Yesso scallop (Mizuhopecten yessoensis) of Russian Far East revealed by mitochondrial and microsatellite genetic markers

Abstract

Yesso scallop (Mizuhopecten yessoensis) is one of the main marine aquaculture species of the Russian Far East. However, the population size of this species is declining due to overfishing and habitat loss. As the population genetic structure of the scallop from Russia is poorly studied, we analyzed polymorphism of the noncoding region mitochondrial DNA (NcR2) and seven microsatellite loci. Genetic diversity and structure of M. yessoensis populations from four geographical areas of the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk were revealed. A total of 24 haplotypes with the one main observed in all studded populations were identified. All populations had high genetic diversity with mean expected heterozygosity from 0.612 to 0.687 and haplotype diversity from 0.619 to 0.793, except for the northern sample from the Terpeniya Gulf (h = 0.47). Small but statistically significant genetic differentiation was observed between the southern population from the Posyet Gulf (Sea of Japan) and populations from the Terpeniya Gulf and Busse Lagoon (Sea of Okhotsk). Despite the high genetic variation between populations, low differentiation, and weak geographical separation was observed that suggest Yesso scallop forms the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk to be one panmictic population. Our results could provide useful information for resource management and genetic monitoring of the economically and ecologically important species of marine bivalves.