Cette étude à pour objectif de maîtriser les conditions de culture et de production toxinique chez Karenia selliformis et Alexandrium ostenfeldii dans le but de réaliser des contaminations expérimentales indépendamment du caractère aléatoire des proliférations toxiques en zones côtières. Ce travail vise également à étudier l'impact de l'alimentation sur la détoxification artificielle de la palourde Ruditapes decussatus contaminée par des gymnodimines et de l'huître Crassostrea gigas contaminées par des spirolides et enfin d'étudier l'impact physiologique de ces micro-algues toxiques au niveau des organes accumulateurs des coquillages. Dans un premier temps, il a été mis en évidence que les performances de croissance de K. selliformis (taux de croissance et concentration maximale) sont obtenues à une température de 22°C pour une salinité de 36 psu en utilisant le milieu f/2 alors que celles d'A. ostenfeldii sont obtenues à une température de 16°C pour une salinité de 35 psu en utilisant le milieu L1. Le contenu en gymnodimine dans les cellules de K. selliformis augmente en fonction de l'âge de la culture alors que le contenu en spirolide diminue au cours de la croissance cellulaire d'A. ostenfeldii plus particulièrement lors de la culture en photobioréacteur de 100 l. Dans un deuxième temps, des études expérimentales portant sur l'interaction des micro-algues toxiques avec les mollusques ont permis d'apporter des connaissances nouvelles sur le devenir des imines cycliques après contamination et lors de la détoxification. Il a ainsi été mis en évidence i) une accumulation majoritaire des GYMs et des SPXs au niveau des glandes digestives des palourdes et des huîtres ii) une accélération des cinétiques de détoxification lors de l'ajout de l'alimentation. Dans un troisième temps, les essais portant sur la contamination de C. gigas par A. ostenfeldii ont permis de déterminer i) une altération des diverticules digestifs consistant en une réduction de l'épaisseur de la paroi épithéliale et en une augmentation de la surface de la lumière des diverticules digestifs ii) une réaction inflammatoire dans la glande digestive de certains individus contaminés se caractérisant par une agglutination massive d'hémocytes autour de différents organes de la glande digestive: l'estomac, l'intestin ainsi que les conduits et tubules digestifs. Dans le cas des contaminations naturelles et expérimentales des palourdes les analyses histologiques réalisées n'ont pas permis de mettre en évidence des signes d'altération de la glande digestive comme dans le cas des les huîtres contaminées par A. ostenfeldii.

Le "coût de la reproduction" est un concept qui définit qu'un investissement à la reproduction élevé a un prix qui se paye ultérieurement par une accélération de la sénescence. Cela peut notamment traduire des compromis entre la reproduction et d'autres fonctions physiologiques comme la défense antioxydante. Chez l'huître creuse Crassostrea gigas, la reproduction représente une fonction physiologique majeure. Dans le cadre des études effectuées pour comprendre les mortalités estivales affectant cette espèce, une corrélation négative entre effort reproducteur et survie a été observée. D'autre part, des gènes antioxydants ont été mis en évidence comme différentiellement exprimés entre les lignées d'huîtres sélectionnées pour leur résistance ou leur sensibilité aux mortalités estivales. Certaines études proposent que la susceptibilité au stress oxydant puisse représenter un coût de la reproduction participant au processus de sénescence. Dans ce contexte, nous avons analysé la capacité antioxydante des huîtres en fonction de leur investissement reproducteur. Pour cela, la technique d'ARN interférence a été utilisée pour manipuler l'effort reproducteur des huîtres. L'expression des principales enzymes antioxydantes (taux de transcrits et activités enzymatiques) et le dosage de dommages oxydatifs ont ensuite été mesurés dans différents tissus et cellules de l'organisme (branchies, gonade, hémocytes et gamètes). Les résultats obtenus dans le cadre de cette thèse suggèrent que la capacité antioxydante de C. gigas est particulièrement efficace et que la reproduction seule n'est pas suffisante pour induire un stress oxydant. Cette capacité antioxydante apparaît comme tissu-spécifique voire cellule-spécifique et le métabolisme du glutathion semble jouer un rôle majeur dans cette protection. Cette grande résistance au stress oxydant contribuerait à faire de C. gigas une espèce particulièrement adaptée à la vie dans des environnements stressants.

Tout d'abord considérés comme simples composants d'une barrière imperméable, il a été démontré que les lipides membranaires auraient en fait un rôle biologique bien plus important, pouvant modifier l'environnement des enzymes membranaires et moduler l'activité de ces dernières. Dans la thèse présentée ici, ces relations ont été étudiées dans les mitochondries de l'huître creuse Crassostrea gigas. Les bivalves subissent d'importants changements environnementaux et l'adaptation à ces changements peut passer par un remodelage des membranes, ce qui fait de ces animaux des modèles intéressants pour les études des relations entre la structure des membranes et les activités d'enzymes associées. Des huîtres ont été nourries en écloserie avec deux régimes d'algues monospécifiques, T-Iso et Chaetoceros gracilis, et un mélange équilibré de ces deux algues. Malgré d'importantes modifications de composition en acides gras induites par les différents régimes alimentaires, une grande stabilité des processus membranaires mitochondriaux a été observée. D'un autre côté, la comparaison entre des huîtres élevées en écloserie et des huîtres élevées dans leur milieu naturel a révélé d'importantes modifications de capacités mitochondriales, qui pourraient être liées à une modulation des classes de phospholipides et de leur insaturation. Ces différences ne peuvent pas s'expliquer par une influence des cycles tidaux dans la mesure où, malgré un changement de production d'ATP, l'activité des mitochondries a été montrée comme étant similaire chez les huîtres collectées en émersion et en immersion. L'homéostasie mitochondriale observée dans cette étude pourrait être un moyen pour les huîtres de faire face aux variations biotiques (disponibilité en nourriture) et abiotiques (disponibilité en oxygène) de l'environnement naturel de C. gigas, et de maintenir leurs fonctions physiologiques malgré ces variations.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:29:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2548.pdf: 4117688 bytes, checksum: 7b49c16675f412a6e3b2572aeaa0d7ff (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-05-19 / Currently, the mangrove oyster Crassostrea sp. is one of the most important fishery resources exploited by the artisanal fishery setor of the Cananéia estuary, responsible for the livelihood of 60 families of extractivists for some decades. The production system can be characterized as rudimental, involving the extraction in mangrove and its direct marketing or previous fattening in structures like trays. The oyster is marketed exclusively in natura and depuration is the only form of improvement, involving a few extractivists. The socioecological system of the oyster extractivism has been target of several interventions, since actions promoted by government agencies, to organize the production chain, till external pressures, like the market ones, which act on the management and commercial practices, affecting the sustainability of the activity. The objective of the present exertion was from the study of characteristics, management and marketing practices of the oysters extractivists groups from Cananéia, to identify the factors that affect the sustainability and to provide subsides to support the management of the activity. For that the socio-economical and productive profile of the users was studied, and the production of oysters in Cananéia, the local commercialization processes, the natural stock of oysters and the productive areas were analyzed. The identified groups of extractivists were compared, and the trends relating to the sustainability of the activity in the ecological, economic, social, technological and ethical dimensions were analyzed. The Mandira group, beneficiary of a considerable number of public interventions, was the group whose performance in the analysis of sustainability was comparatively better. In the extreme opposite, the Porto Cubatão group presented the worst performance in almost all dimensions studied, a fact associated with the small group experience in the activity. As the Porto Cubatão group much as all others located in intermediate position, even though tend to sustainability in specific dimensions, are more susceptible to crises caused by unexpected changes in the system. In the Mandira group, in spite of a better structure, the progress is fragile and it is necessary to consolidate it. The social, technological and ethical dimensions had negative influence on the trends of sustainability and should be considered as priorities in the actions of management. The aspects identified as strategic to improve the possibilities of sustainability of the activity were: encouraging the "fattening" activity of fattening of oysters as well as the replacement of the forms of sale box and desmariscada by production of oysters in dozens ; limiting the entry to the activity; restrainting the illegal commercialization and the processing technology and expanding the user s participation in the management of the activity. / Atualmente, a ostra de mangue Crassostrea sp. é um dos mais importantes recursos explotados pelo setor pesqueiro artesanal do estuário de Cananéia, responsável pelo sustento de cerca de 60 famílias de extrativistas há algumas décadas. O sistema produtivo pode ser caracterizado como rudimentar, envolvendo a extração do recurso no mangue e sua comercialização direta ou a engorda prévia em viveiros tipo tabuleiro. O produto é comercializado exclusivamente in natura e a depuração é a única forma de beneficiamento existente, envolvendo poucos extrativistas.. O sistema socioecológico do extrativismo de ostras tem sido alvo de diversas intervenções, desde ações promovidas por órgãos públicos, no sentido de organizar a cadeia produtiva, até pressões de origem externa, como as de mercado, as quais atuam sobre as práticas de manejo e comercialização, afetando as tendências relativas à sustentabilidade da atividade. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi, a partir do estudo das caraterísticas e práticas de manejo e comercialização dos grupos de extrativistas de ostras de Cananéia, identificar os fatores que afetam a sustentabilidade e fornecer subsídios para apoiar a gestão da atividade. Para isso, o perfil sócio-econômico e produtivo dos extrativistas de ostras de Cananéia foi estudado, bem como foram analisados a produção de ostras do município, os processos comerciais desenvolvidos na cadeia produtiva local, o estoque natural do recurso e as áreas produtivas. Os grupos de extrativistas de ostras identificados foram comparados, sendo analisadas as tendências relativas à sustentabilidade da atividade nas dimensões ecológica, econômica, social, tecnológica e ética. O grupo do Mandira, beneficiário de um considerável número de intervenções públicas, foi o grupo cujo desempenho na análise de sustentabilidade foi comparativamente melhor. Como contraponto, o grupo do Porto Cubatão apresentou o pior desempenho em quase todas as dimensões estudadas, fato associado à pequena experiência do grupo na atividade. Tanto o grupo do Porto Cubatão, quanto os grupos situados em posição intermediária, ainda que em dimensões específicas tendam à sustentabilidade, apresentam maior susceptibilidade a crises provocadas por mudanças inesperadas no sistema. No grupo Mandira, apesar de melhor estruturado, os ganhos alcançados são frágeis, havendo a necessidade de avanços que os consolidem. As dimensões social, tecnológica e ética tiveram influência negativa sobre as tendências da sustentabilidade, devendo ser consideradas como prioritárias nas ações de gestão da atividade. Os aspectos identificados como estratégias específicas de ação para melhorar as perspectivas da atividade quanto à sustentabilidade foram o incentivo à atividade de engorda de ostras; a limitação do ingresso à atividade; o incentivo à substituição das formas de venda na caixa e desmariscada pela produção de ostras em dúzias ; a coibição do comércio clandestino e ampliação do alcance da tecnologia de processamento pós-colheita e da participação dos extrativistas na gestão da atividade.

Marine environments are under constant pressure from anthropogenic pollution. Chemical pollutants are introduced into the aquatic environment through waste disposal, sewage, land runoff and environmental exploitation (harbours, fisheries, tourism) leading to disastrous effects on the marine wildlife. Developmental malformations, reproduction failure including sex changes and high death rates are commonly observed in aquatic animal populations around the world. Unfortunately, the underlying molecular mechanisms of these pollution effects, in particular for marine invertebrate species, are often unknown. One proposed mechanism through which environmental pollution affects wildlife, is the disruption of nuclear receptors (NRs), ligand-binding transcription factors in animals. Environmental pollutants can directly interact with nuclear receptors, inducing incorrect signals for gene expression and subsequently disrupt developmental and physiological processes. Elucidation of the exact mechanism in invertebrates, however, is sparse due to limited understanding of invertebrate endocrinology and molecular regulatory mechanisms. Here, I have investigated the presence, expression and function of NRs in the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, and explored their interrelation with known environmental pollutants. Using a suite of molecular techniques and bioinformatics tools I demonstrate that the Pacific oyster possesses a large variety of NR homologs (43 NRs), which display individual expression profiles during embryo/larval development and supposedly fulfil distinct functions in developmental and physiological processes. Functional studies on a small subset of oyster NRs provided evidence for their ability to regulate gene expression, including interactions with DNA, other NRs or small molecules (ligand-binding). Oyster receptors also show a high likeliness to be disrupted by environmental pollutants. Computational docking showed that the retinoid X receptor ortholog, CgRXR, is able to bind and be activated by 9-cis retinoic acid and by the well-known environmental contaminant tributyltin. A potential interaction between tributyltin and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ortholog CgPPAR has also been found. In addition, exposure of oyster embryos to retinoic acids and tributyltin resulted in shell deformations and developmental failure. In contrast, computer modelling of another putative target for pollutants, the retinoic acid receptor ortholog CgRAR, did not indicate interactions with common retinoic acids, supporting a recently developed theory of loss of retinoid binding in molluscan RARs. Sequence analyses revealed six residues in the receptor sequence, which prevent the successful interaction with retinoid ligands. In conclusion, this investigative work aids the understanding of fundamental processes in invertebrates, such as gene expression and endocrinology, as well as further understanding and prediction of effects of environmental pollutants on marine invertebrates.

L’huître creuse, Crassostrea gigas, est une espèce dont la production aquacole représente un intérêt économique tant au niveau mondial qu’aux niveaux européen et français. Cependant, cette espèce subit des mortalités estivales enregistrées dès le début du 20ème siècle et, depuis 2008, ce phénomène s’est amplifié et menace essentiellement les huîtres juvéniles. La production aquacole d’huître creuse subit les conséquences de ces mortalités massives ; c’est pourquoi ce phénomène est étudié depuis de nombreuses années. En France, la bactérie Vibrio splendidus et le virus Ostreid Herpes Virus 1 (OsHV-1) sont le plus souvent associés aux épisodes de mortalités massives d’huîtres creuses juvéniles et il a été démontré que les individus sélectionnés pour leur résistance aux mortalités estivales étaient capables de ralentir l’augmentation de la charge virale en OsHV-1 dans leurs tissus puis de la faire régresser. Ces mêmes individus présenteraient également un effort reproducteur plus modeste que des individus sélectionnés pour leur sensibilité aux mortalités estivales. Ce travail de thèse s’inscrit dans ce contexte et a donc eu pour principal objectif d’améliorer la connaissance de l’architecture génétique de la reproduction de C. gigas en identifiant des régions du génome ou QTLs (Quantitative Trait Loci) impliquées dans l’effort reproducteur et de mettre en évidence d’éventuelles relations génétiques entre survie et reproduction, des QTLs impliqués dans la survie ayant déjà été détectés. Afin de caractériser l’effort reproducteur, il a été nécessaire de développer un ensemble de nouveaux outils. D’un point de vue biologique, 21 familles F2 ont été produites à partir des lignées sélectionnées pour leur réponse contrastée aux mortalités estivales. D’un point de vue moléculaire, de nouveaux marqueurs SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) ont été développés afin d’augmenter la densité de la carte génétique déjà disponible pour C. gigas. D’un point de vue technique, l’Imagerie par Résonance Magnétique (IRM) a permis d’observer la gamétogenèse de 300 individus d’une même famille F2 au cours de huit sessions réparties sur deux années alors que les études précédentes étaient limitées à une observation ponctuelle; les méthodes classiques d’observation de la gamétogenèse entrainant nécessairement la mort des animaux. Une forte corrélation a été mise en évidence entre les observations par IRM et par la méthode classique de l’histologie. En plus de l’estimation du rapport gonado-somatique (indice traditionnellement utilisé pour caractériser l’effort reproducteur), l’IRM a également permis d’observer des variations individuelles de la cinétique de la gamétogenèse ainsi que des différences entre les mâles et les femelles; le sexe étant identifiable sur les images obtenues par IRM. Parallèlement, 300 individus de deux autres familles F2 ont été sacrifiés pour estimer le rapport gonado-somatique par histologie. Cette approche a ainsi permis de détecter des QTLs impliqués dans de nombreux traits concernant la gamétogenèse. Des individus provenant des trois familles F2 caractérisés pour l’effort reproducteur ont été caractérisés pour la survie à un épisode de mortalités estivales. Cette étude a permis de détecter des QTLs impliqués dans le caractère « survie ». Ces QTLs correspondent, pour certains, à ceux détectés au cours d’une étude précédente. De plus, ces QTLs sont parfois colocalisés avec des QTLs impliqués dans l’effort reproducteur. Bien que la reproduction de l’huître creuse soit un caractère complexe à suivre, les nouveaux outils utilisés au cours de ce travail de thèse ont permis d’acquérir de nouvelles connaissances. Le séquençage du génome complet de Crassostrea gigas ainsi que les nouvelles méthodes de séquençage pourront peut-être permettre d’affiner les régions QTLs détectées. / The Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, is a major aquacultured species whose production represents an economic interest at worldwide, european and french levels. However, this species undergoes summer mortalities recorded from the beginning of the 20th century and, since 2008, this phenomenon increased and threatens mainly juvenile oysters. Aquaculture production of oysters suffers consequences of mass mortalities, that’s why this phenomenon has been studied for many years. In France, the bacterium Vibrio splendidus and the Ostreid virus Herpes Virus 1 (OsHV-1) are often associated with mass mortality outbreaks of juveniles oysters and it was demonstrated that selected individuals for resistance to summer mortality were able to slow the increasing in viral load OsHV-1 in their tissues and then to decline it. These same individuals also present a lighter reproductive effort than individuals selected for their sensitivity to summer mortality. In this context, this study aimed to improve the knowledge of genetic architecture of reproduction of C. gigas by identifying some regions of the genome called QTLs (Quantitative Trait Loci) involved in reproductive effort and highlighting possible genetic relationships between reproduction and survival; QTLs involved in survival being already detected. To characterize the reproductive effort, it was necessary to develop a set of new tools. From a biological point of view, 21 F2 families were produced from lines selected for their contrasting response to summer mortality. From a molecular point of view, new SNPs (Single NucleotidePolymorphism) were developed to increase density of the genetic map already available for C. gigas. On a technical point of view, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) allowed to observe the gametogenesis of 300 individuals of the same family F2 during eight sessions over two years while previous studies were limited to a one-time observation because of the conventional methods of observation of gametogenesis leading necessarily to the death of the animals. A strong correlation was found between observations by MRI and observations by the conventional method of histology. In addition to the estimation of gonadic index (index traditionally used to characterize there productive effort), MRI also revealed individual variations in kinetics of gametogenesis and differences between males and females, the sex being identifiable on MRI images. In parallel, 300 individuals from two F2 families were sacrificed to estimate the gonadic index by histology. This approach enabled the detection of QTLs involved in many gametogenesis traits. Individuals from the three families characterized for F2 reproductive effort were characterized for survival during a summer mortality outbreak. This study was able to detect QTLs involved in the trait "survival". These QTLs correspond to some of those detected in a previous study. In addition, these QTLs are often collocated with QTLs involved in reproductive effort. Although there production of the Pacific oyster is a complex trait to follow, the new tools used in this thesis allowed acquiring new knowledges. The sequencing of genome of Crassostrea gigas and Next-Generation Sequencing technologies may be able to help to refine the detected QTL regions.

Submitted by Cleide Dantas (cleidedantas@ufpa.br) on 2014-11-10T16:51:25Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 22974 bytes, checksum: 99c771d9f0b9c46790009b9874d49253 (MD5) Dissertacao_AvaliacaoSanitariaAgua.pdf: 8775706 bytes, checksum: e71348719f40fedb3d237f4b01cb39f4 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Rosa Silva (arosa@ufpa.br) on 2014-11-11T13:28:08Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 22974 bytes, checksum: 99c771d9f0b9c46790009b9874d49253 (MD5) Dissertacao_AvaliacaoSanitariaAgua.pdf: 8775706 bytes, checksum: e71348719f40fedb3d237f4b01cb39f4 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-11-11T13:28:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 22974 bytes, checksum: 99c771d9f0b9c46790009b9874d49253 (MD5) Dissertacao_AvaliacaoSanitariaAgua.pdf: 8775706 bytes, checksum: e71348719f40fedb3d237f4b01cb39f4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / O cultivo de espécies de ostras do gênero Crassostrea está em expansão no nordeste do estado do Pará, Brasil. Este estudo analisa a qualidade sanitária das ostras e da água em que são cultivadas nos municípios de São Caetano de Odivelas e Curuçá. As coletas foram realizadas mensalmente entre junho de 2009 e maio de 2010. As amostras de águas foram coletadas nas marés enchente e vazante, e cerca de 15 ostras foram obtidos a cada mês durante a maré vazante. Concentrações de coliformes foram determinadas usando a Técnica de Fermentação de Tubos Múltiplos, seguida pela identificação bioquímica das bactérias e determinação do perfil de suscetibilidade de Escherichia coli isoladas a partir de amostras de águas e ostras. A média geométrica das concentrações de coliformes termotolerantes na água foi de 119 mL MPN/100 em São Caetano de Odivelas e 163,21 MPN/100 mL em Curuçá, valores bem acima do limite de 43 mL MPN/100 estabelecido pelo Conselho Nacional do Meio Ambiente Brasileiro (CONAMA). Como a legislação brasileira relacionada à qualidade sanitária dos moluscos bivalves destina-se apenas ao produto processado, foi adotada a legislação da União Europeia, que classifica as ostras para o consumo cru em três classes sanitárias. Em São Caetano de Odivelas, apenas duas das amostras coletadas durante este estudo foram atribuídas para a classe A, sete amostras para a classe B e três amostras para a classe C. Enquanto em Curuçá três amostras foram atribuídas à classe A, sete amostras para a classe C e duas amostras para a classe C. Os resultados sugerem a necessidade de medidas mitigatórias para garantir a qualidade sanitária das ostras, tais como a aplicação de métodos de depuração. / The cultivation of oyster species of the genus Crassostrea is expanding in the northeast of the Brazilian state of Pará. This study analyzes the sanitary quality of the oysters and the water in which they are cultivated in the local municipality of São Caetano de Odivelas and Curuçá. Samples were collected monthly between June, 2009, and May, 2010. Water samples were collected from the flood and the ebb tides, and approximately 15 oysters were obtained each month. Coliform concentrations were determined using the multiple-tube fermentation technique, followed by the biochemical identification of the bacteria and determination the susceptibility profile of Escherichia coli isolated from oysters and water samples. The geometric mean concentration of thermotolerant coliforms in the water was 119 MPN/100 mL in São Caetano de Odivelas and 163,21 MPN/100 mL in Curuçá, well above the limit of 43 MPN/100 mL established by the Brazilian National Environment Council (CONAMA). As Brazilian legislation on the sanitary quality of bivalve mollusks covers only the processed product, the European Union legislation, which assigns oysters for raw consumption to three sanitary classes, was adopted for the evaluation of the results of the present study. In São Caetano de Odivelas only two of the samples collected during this study were assigned to class A, seven samples to class B and three samples to class C. While in Curuçá three samples were assigned to class A, seven samples to class C and two samples to class C. The results suggest the need for mitigation measures to ensure the health quality of the oysters, such as the application of methods of depuration.

Norovirus (NoV) is a significant cause of gastroenteritis globally, and the consumption of oysters is frequently linked to outbreaks. Depuration is the principle means employed to reduce levels of potentially harmful agents or toxins in shellfish. The aim of this thesis is to construct mathematical models which can describe the depuration dynamics of water-borne pathogens, and specifically examine the dynamics of NoV during depuration for a population shellfish. Legislation is currently under consideration within the EU by the Directorate-General for Health and Consumers (DG SANCO) to limit the maximum level of NoV that consumers are exposed to via this route. Therefore it is important to the utility of the thesis that any models constructed should incorporate control measures which could be used to implement minimum NoV levels. Doing so allowed calculation of minimum depuration times that would be required to adhere to the control measures incorporated into the models. In addition to modelling the impact on pathogens during the depuration, we wished to gain some insight into how the variability, and not just the mean levels, of water-borne pathogens can be as important with respect to the length of depuration required to minimise any food safety risks to the consumer. This proved difficult in the absence of any data sets that can be used to calculate variability measures, as little data is currently available to inform these values for NoV. However, our modelling techniques were able to calculate an upper limit on the variability of water-borne pathogens that can be well approximated by lognormal distributions. Finally we construct a model which provided linkage between the depuration process and the accretion of pathogens by shellfish while still within farming waters. This model proposed that the pulses of untreated waste waters released by sewage treatment works due to high levels of rainfall would be transmitted into shellfish whilst filter-feeding.

The United States Pacific Northwest is well known for its shellfish farming. Historically, commercial harvests were dominated by the native Olympia oyster, Ostrea lurida, but over-exploitation, habitat degradation, and competition and predation by non-native species has drastically depleted their densities and extirpated many local populations. As a result, shellfish aquaculture production has shifted to the introduced Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas. An underlying objective of this dissertation is the use of molecular genetics to improve our ability to accurately identifying optimal oyster broodstock for either restoration of Olympia oysters or farming of Pacific oysters. The ecological benefits provided by oysters as well as the Olympia oyster's historical significance, has motivated numerous restoration/supplementation efforts but these efforts are proceeding without a clear understanding of the genetic structure among extant populations, which could be substantial as a consequence of limited dispersal, local adaptation and/or anthropogenic impacts. To facilitate this understanding, we isolated and characterized 19 polymorphic microsatellites and used 8 of these to study the genetic structure of 2,712 individuals collected from 25 remnant Olympia oyster populations between the northern tip of Vancouver Island BC and Elkhorn Slough CA. Gene flow among geographically separated extant Olympia oyster populations is surprisingly limited for a marine invertebrate species whose free-swimming larvae are capable of planktonic dispersal as long as favorable water conditions exist. We found a significant correlation between geographic and genetic distances supporting the premise that coastal populations are isolated by distance. Genetic structure among remnant populations was not limited to broad geographic regions but was also present at sub-regional scales in both Puget Sound WA and San Francisco Bay CA. Until it can be determined whether genetically differentiated O. lurida populations are locally adapted, restoration projects and resource managers should be cautious of random mixing or transplantation of stocks where gene flow is restricted. As we transition from our Olympia oyster population analysis to our Pacific oyster quantitative analysis, we recognize that traditional quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping strategies use crosses among inbred lines to create segregating populations. Unfortunately, even low levels of inbreeding in the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) can substantially depress economically important quantitative traits such as yield and survival, potentially complicating subsequent QTL analyses. To circumvent this problem, we constructed an integrated linkage map for Pacific oysters, consisting of 65 microsatellite (18 of which were previously unmapped) and 212 AFLP markers using a full-sib cross between phenotypically differentiated outbred families. We identified 10 linkage groups (LG1-LG10) spanning 710.48 cM, with an average genomic coverage of 91.39% and an average distance between markers of 2.62 cM. Average marker saturation was 27.7 per linkage group, ranging between 19 (LG9) and 36 markers (LG3). Using this map we identified 12 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and 5 potential QTLs in the F1 outcross population of 236 full-sib Pacific oysters for four growth-related morphometric measures, including individual wet live weight, shell length, shell width and shell depth measured at four post-fertilization time points: plant-out (average age of 140 days), first year interim (average age of 358 days), second year interim (average age of 644 days) and harvest (average age of 950 days). Mapped QTLs and potential QTLs accounted for an average of 11.2% of the total phenotypic variation and ranged between 2.1 and 33.1%. Although QTL or potential QTL were mapped to all Pacific oyster linkage groups with the exception of LG2, LG8 and LG9, three groups (LG4, LG10 and LG5) were associated with three or more QTL or potential QTL. We conclude that alleles accounting for a significant proportion of the total phenotypic variation for morphometric measures that influence harvest yield remain segregating within the broodstock of West Coast Pacific oyster selective breeding programs. / Graduation date: 2012