No evidence for reduced genetic variation in the accidentally introduced oysterCrassostrea gigasin New Zealand

Abstract
The Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, was accidentally introduced into New Zealand and first recorded here in 1971. Starch gel electrophoresis has been used to estimate genetic variation in two populations of C. gigas from the east and west coasts of New Zealand and in one population from Japan. At seventeen loci the common alleles in Japan are common to those in New Zealand. Genetic variation (measured as proportion of loci polymorphic, effective number of alleles, and heterozygosities) is similar in New Zealand and Japan. It is concluded that the New Zealand population shows no evidence for reduced genetic variation. The origin of the New Zealand populations is discussed.