Genetic Variation in the Oyster, Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin), in Relation to Environmental Variation

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Abstract
Four polymorphic loci in seven natural oyster (Crassostrea virginica Gmelin) populations of the Chesapeake Bay were analyzed by protein-gel electrophoresis for genetic variation. Samples of about 100 each were taken in 1977 along environmental gradients from stations in the James and Potomac rivers. The distribution of genotypes at four loci for each of the stations was nog significantly different from Hardy-Weinberg expectations. At two loci (Pgi andLap-2), a pool of all seven stations was also in equilibrium. Significant genetic differentiation between rivers was detected for two other loci (Pgm-1 andLap-1), and frequency of one genotype (Lap-1 95/95) was significantly correlated with mean temperature over the water monitoring period (1972–1977).