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  • Manuel Vera
    University of Santiago de Compostela
  • Sophie-Berenice Wilmes
  • Francesco Maroso
    University of Santiago de Compostela
  • Miguel Hermida
    University of Santiago de Compostela
  • Andrés Blanco
    University of Santiago de Compostela
  • Adrian Casanova
    University of Santiago de Compostela
  • David Iglesias
    Centro de Investigacións Mariñas (CIMA)
  • Asunción Cao
    Centro de Investigacións Mariñas (CIMA)
  • S.C. Culloty
    University College Cork
  • Kate Mahony
    University College Cork
  • Francis Orvain
    University of Caen
  • Carmen Bouza
    University of Santiago de Compostela
  • Peter Robins
  • Shelagh Malham
  • Sharon Lynch
    University College Cork
  • Villalba Antonio
    Centro de Investigacións Mariñas (CIMA)
  • Paulino Martínez
    University of Santiago de Compostela
Knowledge of genetic structure at the finest level is essential for the conservation of genetic resources. Despite no visible barriers limiting gene flow, significant genetic structure has been shown in marine species. The common cockle (Cerastoderma edule) is a bivalve of great commercial and ecological value inhabiting the Northeast Atlantic Ocean. Previous population genomics studies demonstrated significant structure both across the Northeast Atlantic, but also within small geographic areas, highlighting the need to investigate fine-scale structuring. Here, we analysed two geographic areas that could represent opposite models of structure for the species: (1) the SW British Isles region, highly fragmented due to biogeographic barriers, and (2) Galicia (NW Spain), a putative homogeneous region. A total of 9250 SNPs genotyped by 2b-RAD on 599 individuals from 22 natural beds were used for the analysis. The entire SNP dataset mostly confirmed previous observations related to genetic diversity and differentiation; however, neutral and divergent SNP outlier datasets enabled disentangling physical barriers from abiotic environmental factors structuring both regions. While Galicia showed a homogeneous structure, the SW British Isles region was split into four reliable genetic regions related to oceanographic features and abiotic factors, such as sea surface salinity and temperature. The information gathered supports specific management policies of cockle resources in SW British and Galician regions also considering their particular socio-economic characteristics; further, these new data will be added to those recently reported in the Northeast Atlantic to define sustainable management actions across the whole distribution range of the species.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)292-305
JournalHeredity
Volume131
Issue number4
Early online date18 Aug 2023
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2023

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