Subventions et des contributions :

Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier (2017-2018 à 2018-2019).

The eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, is a commercially and ecologically important species whose naturalx000D
range includes all the Maritime Provinces. It is also cultivated in Quebec and Newfoundland. Despite theirx000D
importance, we know very little about their population-genetic structure. This information is critical not only tox000D
the management of wild oyster introductions and transfers, but also in the establishment and management ofx000D
hatchery broodstock programs. L'Étang Ruisseau Bar Ltd. (ERB) owns and operates Atlantic Canada's largestx000D
shellfish hatchery, exporting seed to all Atlantic provinces. The proposed project aims at finalising a thoroughx000D
analysis and publication based on cutting-edge population-genomics analyses that allowed quantifying keyx000D
features of wild oyster populations, including critical information such as the amount and extent of geneticx000D
differentiation, estimates of effective population size, and evidence for local adaptation. Our results to datex000D
showed that despite the massive rehabilitation transfers of disease-resistant PEI broodstock, there is highlyx000D
significant population differentiation at local and regional scales. These results represent a profound shift in ourx000D
view of oyster diversity in Eastern Canada and raises questions about the origin and maintenance of oysterx000D
genetic diversity in the face of considerable historical and contemporary disturbance. The proposed project willx000D
extend ongoing analyses to uncover the driving forces behind this pattern of diversity. We will develop specificx000D
recommendations for current broodstock collection activities and breeding program, as well as prepare andx000D
submit our results for publication. This will enhance ERB's broodstock management strategy, increasing thex000D
performance of their seed in aquaculture production, inform their selective breeding program, and minimize thex000D
potential genetic impacts of large-scale transfers on neighbouring wild populations.