Securing genetic integrity in freshwater pearl mussel propagation and captive breeding.

ABSTRACT: Securing genetic integrity is of key importance in conservation-oriented captive breeding programs releasing juveniles into the wild. This is particularly true for species such as the endangered freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) for which a number of captive breeding facilities has been established in Europe. The core objective of this study was to compare the genetic constitution of 29 cohorts of captive-bred freshwater pearl mussels from five different breeding facilities in Austria, France, Luxembourg and Germany, with their original 14 source populations from nine major European drainages, based on microsatellite markers. Captive-bred mussels represented 11 different genetic clusters, suggesting an important contribution of the breeding stations to securing the gene

SUBMITTER: Geist J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8346490 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature