Population genetic study on the clam Coelomactra antiquata along the coast of China

摘要

Coelomactra antiquata is a commercially exploited bivalve, and its populations have been severely declining in the coast of China during the last two decades. In order to provide guidelines for conservation strategies and management programs, four populations of C. antiquata, representing the most important populations in China, were analyzed morphologically and genetically to reveal the genetic structure by using 7 polymorphic allozyme loci and 12 morphological variables. All genetic distance metrics revealed high level of genetic differentiation between the three northern populations and one southern population.