Genetic Connectivity and Population Structure in Marine Decapods
Summary
Marine decapods, including crabs, shrimps and lobsters, exhibit complex patterns of genetic connectivity shaped by life‐history traits, ocean currents and geographical barriers. Larval dispersal through planktonic phases often promotes gene flow across hundreds of kilometres, yet biogeographic features such as major river outflows, continental shelves and temperature gradients can interrupt connectivity, fostering population structure. Genetic tools, notably mitochondrial markers and microsatellites, have revealed both high connectivity among widespread species and sharp genetic breaks in others. These insights inform conservation, fisheries management and the design of marine protected areas by identifying distinct management units and assessing resilience to exploitation and climate change. Recent advances in genomic techniques further illuminate adaptive divergence and demographic history, offering a more nuanced understanding of how environmental and anthropogenic factors shape decapod population structure worldwide.
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Genetic Connectivity and Population Structure in Marine Decapods publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in genetic connectivity and population structure in marine decapods across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Microsatellite markers: Short, repeating sequences of nuclear DNA used to assess genetic diversity and differentiation.
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA): Genetic material inherited maternally, commonly employed to infer population structure and historical demography.
Genetic stock: A population or group of populations sufficiently connected by gene flow to be considered a single management unit.
Bottleneck: A sharp reduction in population size leading to loss of genetic diversity.
References
- High Connectivity among Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus) Populations in the Western South Atlantic. PLOS ONE (2016).
- Genetic diversity and connectivity in the East African giant mud crab Scylla serrata: Implications for fisheries management. PLOS ONE (2017).
- Phylogeography of the Atlantic Blue Crab Callinectes sapidus (Brachyura: Portunidae) in the Americas versus the Mediterranean Sea: Determining Origins and Genetic Connectivity of a Large-Scale Invasion. Biology (2022).
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