POPULATION STRUCTURE AND GENE FLOW IN THE SHEEPNOSE MUSSEL (PLETHOBASUS
CYPHYUS) AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR CONSERVATION
Abstract
North American freshwater mussel species have experienced substantial
range fragmentation and population reductions. These impacts have the
potential to reduce genetic connectivity among populations and increase
the risk of losing genetic diversity. Thirteen microsatellite loci and
an 883 bp fragment of the mitochondrial ND1 gene were used to assess
genetic diversity, population structure, contemporary and historical
migration rates, and population size changes across the range of the
Sheepnose mussel (Plethobasus cyphyus). Population structure analyses
reveal five populations, three in the Upper Mississippi River Basin and
two in the Ohio River Basin. Sampling locations exhibit a high degree of
genetic diversity and contemporary migration estimates indicate that
migration between populations within river basins is occurring, although
at low rates. but no migration is occurring between the Ohio and
Mississippi river basins. No evidence of bottlenecks was detected, and
almost all locations exhibited the signature of population expansion.
Our results indicate that although anthropogenic activity has altered
the landscape across the range of the Sheepnose, these activities have
yet to be reflected in losses of genetic diversity. Efforts to conserve
sheepnose populations should focus on maintaining existing habitats and
fostering genetic connectivity between extant demes to conserve
remaining genetic diversity for future viable Sheepnose populations.