engleski

Gene flow vs. pollution pressure: genetic diversity of Mytilus galloprovincialis in eastern adriatic

Environmental pollution may modify genetic diversity of exposed populations causing their genetic erosion through the processes of selection, adaptation and genetic drift, by influencing migrations, or even enhance the mutational load of the population through the high genotoxic pressure. In order to evaluate the pollution impact on the genetic diversity of native Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis ten populations inhabiting differently polluted sites along the eastern Adriatic coast, from pristine bays to highly trafficated harbours, were studied. Pollution pressure was assessed using analyses of metals bioaccumulation and different biomarkers of effect and exposure, including genotoxicity endpoints and oxidative stress measurements. Eight microsatellite markers were analysed to assess genetic diversity of investigated populations. Both the principal component analysis (PCA) of biomarker data set as well as the integrated biomarker response (IBR) revealed substantial pollution pressure at some polluted sites, and confirmed very low pollution exposure at the three investigated reference sites. Interestingly, populations inhabiting polluted sites exhibited high level of genetic diversity. However, very low genetic differentiation was found between populations inhabiting polluted and clean areas, and microsatellite data did not revealed any pollution driven genetic divergence of M. galloprovincialis populations.

Mytilus galloprovincialis; microsatelite analysis; biomarkers

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