Estimating the dispersal capacity of the Scottish blue mussel (Mytilus edulis)

本论文的总体目标是推进当前的知识和方法在贻贝养殖规划，保护和管理实践。这将通过使用生物物理模型结合全基因组测序来研究幼虫扩散和种群连接来实现。追踪和了解贻贝种子的来源是一个国家和国际问题，也是不断扩大的行业面临的最重大挑战。为了实现这一目标，将追求以下三个目标：* 获得蓝贻贝的全基因组组装，以正确识别分子标记，用于进化，群体遗传学和保护研究。使用非结构化的三维流体动力学模型来研究苏格兰西海岸的幼虫运动模式。这将允许量化区域之间的变异性和连通性，并确定最可能的幼虫来源。进行蓝贻贝种群结构研究，并验证苏格兰西海岸等动态地区主要双壳贝类生产地点的水动力模型。

The overarching objective of this thesis is to advance current knowledge and methods in mussel farming planning, conservation, and management practices. This will be achieved by using biophysical models in combination with genome-wide sequencing to investigate larval dispersal and population connectivity. Tracing and understanding the source of seed mussels is both a national and international problem and the most significant challenge for the expanding industry. To accomplish the objective, the following three goals will be pursued:* Obtain the whole genome assembly of the blue mussel to correctly identify molecular markers for evolutionary, population genetics, and conservation studies.* Use an unstructured tridimensional hydrodynamic model to examine patterns of larval movement on the West coast of Scotland. This will allow the quantification of variability and connectivity between regions and the identification ofthe most probable sources of larvae.* Conduct a blue mussel population structure study and validate the hydrodynamic model for key bivalve production locations in dynamic places such as the West coast of Scotland.