Horse Mussel Genetic Connectivity in Northwest Atlantic

More than 8000 restriction-site associated DNA sequencing-derived single nucleotide polymorphisms and 8 microsatellites were used to examine genomic connectivity among horse mussel populations. The analysis of over 8000 SNPs and microsatellites found less than 1% of genetic variation between sampling locations, indicating high connectivity and minimal genomic divergence across the Northwest Atlantic. The data was published by Fisheries and Oceans Canada in May 2025.

Use Cases

• Analyze population connectivity using more than 8000 SNP markers and 8 microsatellites to assess genetic similarity across sampling locations.
• Examine genomic divergence by calculating pairwise FST and inbreeding coefficients from the SNP dataset to evaluate population structure.
• Investigate potential loci under selection by identifying outlier loci within the SNP data to understand adaptive genetic variation.
• Perform principal components and Admixture analysis on the SNP genotypes to visualize the lack of independent genomic clusters.

Strengths

• Dataset utilizes a large genomic marker set of over 8000 SNP loci for population genetic analysis.
• Analysis includes multiple complementary methods: principal components analysis, Admixture analysis, pairwise FST calculations, and analysis of molecular variance.
• Findings are specific, reporting that less than 1% of genetic variation was found between sampled locations.

Limitations

• The raw description indicates an overall lack of genetic diversity and population structure, which may limit analyses seeking to identify distinct populations.
• Specific sample sizes, row counts for genetic data, and detailed column structures for the SNP and microsatellite data are not provided.
• The data focuses solely on the Northwest Atlantic region, limiting geographic generalizability.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Coastal Ecosystem Science Division, Maritimes Region.

Collection Method

Genomic data derived from restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq) for SNPs and microsatellite panels.

Time Range

Study published May 2025; specific sampling dates not provided.

Freshness

Data was last updated on the platform in March 2026 and cites a publication date of May 2025.

Geography

Northwest Atlantic Ocean, including the Bay of Fundy, Scotian Shelf, and extending to Newfoundland.