Genetic Connectivity and Hybridization in Mytilus Mussels
Summary
Blue mussels of the genus Mytilus represent a globally distributed complex of closely related species whose life histories combine high larval dispersal with the potential for interspecific gene flow. Ocean currents, temperature gradients and anthropogenic activities all shape patterns of genetic connectivity, resulting in distinct population structures, hybrid zones and introgression events. Regions of secondary contact, often maintained over decades, reveal the permeability of reproductive barriers between Mytilus edulis, M. galloprovincialis and M. trossulus, among others. Such hybrid zones serve as natural laboratories for studying speciation, local adaptation and the influence of environmental change on the maintenance or breakdown of species boundaries. Understanding the genomic architecture of admixture has practical implications for aquaculture, biodiversity conservation and the management of invasive lineages. Recent advances in whole-genome sequencing, high-throughput SNP genotyping and spatially explicit modelling have begun to unravel how selective pressures and dispersal dynamics interact to shape the distribution of genetic diversity in Mytilus mussels on both regional and global scales.
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Genetic Connectivity and Hybridization in Mytilus Mussels publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in genetic connectivity and hybridization in mytilus mussels across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Genetic connectivity: The exchange of genes among populations through dispersal and reproduction.
Hybridization: The interbreeding of individuals from genetically distinct populations or species.
Introgression: The incorporation of genetic material from one species into the gene pool of another through repeated backcrossing.
Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP): A variation at a single base pair in genomic DNA used as a genetic marker.
Larval dispersal: The movement of planktonic larvae by ocean currents, influencing population connectivity.
References
- Genetic Diversity, Population Structure, and Environmental Adaptation Signatures of Chinese Coastal Hard-Shell Mussel Mytilus coruscus Revealed by Whole-Genome Sequencing. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023).
- Patterns of admixture and introgression in a mosaic Mytilus galloprovincialis and Mytilus edulis hybrid zone in SW England. Molecular Ecology (2023).
- Trans-Atlantic Distribution and Introgression as Inferred from Single Nucleotide Polymorphism: Mussels Mytilus and Environmental Factors. Genes (2020).
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