A COMPREHENSIVE GENETIC STUDY OF CULTURED AND WILD STOCKS OF GILTHEAD SEA-BREAM (SPARUS AURATA) AND GENETIC ASSESSMENT OF SEVERAL RELATED SPECIES AS CANDIDATES FOR AQUACULTURE

Objective

The project has three main objectives.

(a) To compare the amount of genetic variation of aquacultured stocks of Sparus aurata with that of wild populations of the same species. This will indicate if current practice of renewal of farmed stocks leads to inbreeding and, thus, to long-term deterioration of the performance of aquacultured stocks. It will also provide information as to whether there are geographic differences among cultured and wild stocks that may affect decisions regarding stocking farms with animals from different areas of the species' distribution.
(b) To obtain an estimate of the genetic diversity of the wild populations of species related to Sparus aurata that are candidates for aquaculture. This information will be useful for the choice of the founding stocks of such farms.
(c) To explore the potential of hybrids between Sparus aurata and two related species (Pagrus pagrus and Puntazzo puntazzo) for aquaculture.
The project evolves the following phases and methodologies: 1- sampling: wild populations of several species will be sampled in different geographic localities as well as farmed gilthead seabream; 2- morphological measurements: each sampled animal will be examined for eight morphological characters; 3 - genetic measurements: each animal will be scored for three sets of genetic markers (mitochondrial DNA, microsatellites and allozymes); 4 - hybridization experiments: Sparus aurata will be crossed to Pagrus pagrus and Puntazzo puntazzo. The viability, growth and feeding behaviour, sexual development and fertility of hybrids will be studied.

Programme(s)

• FP3-AIR - Specific research and technological development and demonstration programme (EEC) in the field of agriculture and agro-industry, including fisheries, 1990-1994

Topic(s)

• 255 - Improvement and conservation of the genetic basis of aquaculture

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

INSTITUTE OF MARINE BIOLOGY OF CRETE

Address

P.o.box 2214
71003 Iraklion Crete
Greece

 

Participants (4)

INST. OF MARINE BIOLOGY OF CRETE

Greece

Address

P.o.box
71003 Iraklion - Crete

 

UNIVERSIDAD DE MALAGA

Spain

Address

Plaza De El Ejido
29071 Malaga

 

UNIVERSIDADE DO ALGARVE

Portugal

Address

8000 Faro

 

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PADOVA

Italy

Address

Via U.bassi 58/B
35131 Padova