Exploring reported population differences in Norway lobster () in the Pomo Pits region of the Adriatic Sea using genome-wide markers.

The Norway lobster () is one of the most important decapod crustacean seafood species in the Adriatic Sea. Previous research has identified significant differences in growth rates and maturation timing of in the Pomo/Jabuka Pits area compared to other subpopulations in Adriatic fishing grounds. Here, we use 1,623 genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to investigate whether the Pomo Pits subpopulation is genetically different from other sites in the Adriatic and neighbouring seas.

Rare, long-distance dispersal underpins genetic connectivity in the pink sea fan, .

Characterizing patterns of genetic connectivity in marine species is of critical importance given the anthropogenic pressures placed on the marine environment. For sessile species, population connectivity can be shaped by many processes, such as pelagic larval duration, oceanographic boundaries and currents. This study combines restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) and passive particle dispersal modelling to delineate patterns of population connectivity in the pink sea fan, , a temperate octocoral.

mapmixture: An R package and web app for spatial visualisation of admixture and population structure.

The mapmixture R package and interactive web app are tools to aid visualisation of admixture and population structure in geographic space. The purpose of mapmixture is to enable and encourage molecular ecologists, and in particular population geneticists and phylogeneticists, to plot their admixture, ancestry or assignment results on a map when location information is available. mapmixture accepts data in the format typically generated by admixture analyses and visualises proportions to each genetic cluster per site as pie charts on a projected (optional) map.

The First Genome of the Cold-Water Octocoral, the Pink Sea Fan, Eunicella verrucosa.

Cold-water corals form an important part of temperate benthic ecosystems by increasing three-dimensionality and providing an important ecological substrate for other benthic fauna. However, the fragile three-dimensional structure and life-history characteristics of cold-water corals can leave populations vulnerable to anthropogenic disturbance. Meanwhile, the ability of temperate octocorals, particularly shallow-water species, to respond to adjustments in their environment linked to climate change has not been studied.

Predicting habitat suitability and range shifts under projected climate change for two octocorals in the north-east Atlantic.

Species distribution models have become a valuable tool to predict the distribution of species across geographic space and time. In this study, maximum entropy models were constructed for two temperate shallow-water octocoral species, the pink sea fan () and dead man's fingers (), to investigate and compare habitat suitability. The study area covered the north-east Atlantic from the Bay of Biscay to the British Isles and southern Norway; this area includes both the northern range of and the middle-northern range of .

The complete mitochondrial genome of the pink sea fan, (Pallas, 1766).

The pink sea fan, (Pallas, 1766), inhabits rocky substrates across the northeast Atlantic and the western Mediterranean. Across much of its range it has been detrimentally affected by fishing. DNA from 17 specimens was amplified by phi29-induced rolling circle amplification.

Whole genome genotyping reveals discrete genetic diversity in north-east Atlantic maerl beds.

Maerl beds are vital habitats for a diverse array of marine species across trophic levels, but they are increasingly threatened by human activities and climate change. Furthermore, little is known about the genetic diversity of maerl-forming species and the population structure of maerl beds, both of which are important for understanding the ability of these species to adapt to changing environments and for informing marine reserve planning. In this study, we used a whole genome genotyping approach to explore the population genomics of , a maerl-forming red algal species, whose geographical distribution spans the north-east Atlantic, from Norway to Portugal.

Historical translocations and stocking alter the genetic structure of a Mediterranean lobster fishery.

Stocking is often used to supplement wild populations that are overexploited or have collapsed, yet it is unclear how this affects the genetic diversity of marine invertebrate populations. During the 1970s, a lobster stock enhancement program was carried out around the island of Corsica in the Mediterranean using individuals translocated from the Atlantic coast of France. This included the release of thousands of hatchery-reared postlarval lobsters and several adult individuals, but no monitoring plan was established to assess whether these animals survived and recruited to the population.

Crossing the pond: genetic assignment detects lobster hybridisation.

American lobsters (Homarus americanus) imported live into Europe as a seafood commodity have occasionally been released or escaped into the wild, within the range of an allopatric congener, the European lobster (H. gammarus). In addition to disease and competition, introduced lobsters threaten native populations through hybridisation, but morphological discriminants used for species identification are unable to discern hybrids, so molecular methods are required.

Harnessing genomics to fast-track genetic improvement in aquaculture.

Aquaculture is the fastest-growing farmed food sector and will soon become the primary source of fish and shellfish for human diets. In contrast to crop and livestock production, aquaculture production is derived from numerous, exceptionally diverse species that are typically in the early stages of domestication. Genetic improvement of production traits via well-designed, managed breeding programmes has great potential to help meet the rising seafood demand driven by human population growth.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms reveal a genetic cline across the north-east Atlantic and enable powerful population assignment in the European lobster.

Resolving stock structure is crucial for fisheries conservation to ensure that the spatial implementation of management is commensurate with that of biological population units. To address this in the economically important European lobster (), genetic structure was explored across the species' range using a small panel of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) previously isolated from restriction-site-associated DNA sequencing; these SNPs were selected to maximize differentiation at a range of both broad and fine scales. After quality control and filtering, 1,278 lobsters from 38 sampling sites were genotyped at 79 SNPs.

Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence: Nanopore sequencing and complete assembly of the European lobster (Homarus gammarus) mitogenome uncovers the missing nad2 and a new major gene cluster duplication.

Background: The recently published complete mitogenome of the European lobster (Homarus gammarus) that was generated using long-range PCR exhibits unusual gene composition (missing nad2) and gene rearrangements among decapod crustaceans with strong implications in crustacean phylogenetics. Such atypical mitochondrial features will benefit greatly from validation with emerging long read sequencing technologies such as Oxford Nanopore that can more accurately identify structural variation.

Results: We re-sequenced the H.

Exceptional biodiversity of the cryptofaunal decapods in the Chagos Archipelago, central Indian Ocean.

The Chagos Archipelago is geographically remote and isolated from most direct anthropogenic pressures. Here, we quantify the abundance and diversity of decapod crustaceans inhabiting dead coral colonies, representing a standardised microhabitat, across the Archipelago. Using morphological and molecular techniques we recorded 1868 decapods from 164 nominal species within 54 dead coral colonies, but total species estimates (Chao1 estimator) calculate at least 217 species.

Meta-analysis of northeast Atlantic marine taxa shows contrasting phylogeographic patterns following post-LGM expansions.

Background: Comparative phylogeography enables the study of historical and evolutionary processes that have contributed to shaping patterns of contemporary genetic diversity across co-distributed species. In this study, we explored genetic structure and historical demography in a range of coastal marine species across the northeast Atlantic to assess whether there are commonalities in phylogeographic patterns across taxa and to evaluate whether the timings of population expansions were linked to the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM).

Methods: A literature search was conducted using Web of Science.