Genetic structure of Crassostrea virginica (American oyster) reefs along the Alabama Gulf Coast

Declines in oyster reef productivity have been reported to negatively affect commercial and recreational fisheries and potentially influence natural ecosystems. Although oyster landings along the Alabama coast have remained high and stable, a restoration program has been initiated in this area to increase and/or maintain oyster bed productivity. To effectively manage an oyster reef restoration project an understanding of the genetic structure of the oyster population(s) and hence, the extent of local larval transport and genetic exchange among the oyster reefs in the natural environment is of considerable practical importance. This study has established a gene flow map of the region by investigating the genetic variation and differentiation among five oyster reefs spanning the Alabama gulf coast. The results indicate high levels of genetic diversity within sampled reefs and weak genetic differentiation among the samples. An estimator of gene flow indicated that the main commercial oyster reef, Cedar Point Reef, is the primary source of recruits for the area.