Divergent selection for growth rate in the European oyster Ostrea edulis: response to selection and estimation of genetic parameters

• Published in: Marine ecology. Progress series (Halstenbek) 1990-01, Vol.62 (3), p.219-227
• Main Authors: Toro, Jorge E., Newkirk, Gary F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bivalvia; Body weight; Fish culture; Growing seasons; Heritability; Larval development; Marine; Ostrea edulis; Oyster culture; Oysters; Phenotypic traits; Quantitative genetics; Zygotes
• ISSN: 0171-8630; 1616-1599
• DOI: 10.3354/meps062219

Individual (mass) selection for growth rate was carried out in the European oyster Ostrea edulis (Linne). Oysters from 40 families produced in 1983 were selected on the basis of their live weight after the first growing season. Divergent selection was applied; the High and Low selected group were mated in pairs according to their rank. Twenty-four families were obtained: 6 Low selected and 18 High selected. A total of 6560 spat were individually tagged and brought to the field for 2 yr. Shell height and live weight after the first and second growing seasons were analyzed. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between the offspring of the High and Low selected groups for both traits after both growing seasons. No differences in survival were detected between the families of the 2 selected groups. Heritability estimates for live weight and shell height, after each growing season ranged from h² = 0.112 to 0.243. Genetic correlations between the traits were found to be high; rₐ = 0.963 for the first growing season and rₐ = 0.995 for the second growing season.