Genetic Population Structure in Blue Crabs (Callinectes sapidus): High
Resolution Population Genomics of a High Gene Flow Species
Abstract
Widespread dispersal of progeny is expected to result in enough gene
flow to maintain genetic homogeneity over large areas. Surveys of
genetic markers in species with planktonic larvae have mostly confirmed
this expectation. However, genetic structure has occasionally been found
at small spatiotemporal scales and interpreted as evidence of restricted
dispersal, natal homing, sweepstakes reproductive success, or natural
selection. We investigated genetic population structure in blue crabs
from the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts of North America. Sampling
was most intensive from five estuaries along the coast of Louisiana,
with megalopae, juveniles and adults sampled from 2010 to 2016. 1446
individuals were genotyped at 2486 SNPs in 1363 putative protein-coding
loci. Levels of differentiation between locations were consistently low,
but significant differentiation was found among locations and among
years. No evidence was found for chaotic genetic patchiness or
sweepstakes reproductive success: no genetic differentiation was
detected among collections of megalopae and none of the sampled
individuals were closely related. Our results indicate that gene flow in
blue crabs maintains near genetic homogeneity from the northern Gulf of
Mexico through the Atlantic coast of North America.