The genetic population structure and temporal genetic stability of gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata populations in the Aegean and Ionian Seas, using microsatellite DNA markers

We examined 662 gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata from wild samples of the species in the Aegean and Ionian Seas, using 20 EST-linked microsatellite markers, in three multiplex panels, as well as seven anonymous loci. Most of the markers were revealed to be highly polymorphic. We found low genetic differentiation between the sampling stations/areas with total F-ST 0.002 (P<0.05). Based on comparison of five temporal samples, our results indicate genetic data consistency over time for all tested samples, pointing to stable populations, despite reported repeated escape events. Our results confirm the genetic population structure previously observed in these specific areas, using by far more markers than in previous studies in both coding and non-coding DNA loci. The limited genetic structure and the temporal genetic stability indicate neither major genetic differentiation of local populations by geographic isolation nor influence from anthropogenic factors. These results provide a baseline for future reference in any management programme of both wild and farmed population of S. aurata as well as of other aquaculture species with a potential introgression among farmed and wild populations.