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

这篇论文的首要目标是促进当前在贻贝养殖规划、保护和管理实践方面的知识和方法。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的扩散和种群连接来实现。追踪和了解贻贝种子的来源既是一个国家和国际问题，也是不断扩大的行业面临的最大挑战。为了实现这一目标，将追求以下三个目标：*获得蓝色贻贝的全基因组组合，以正确地识别用于进化、种群遗传学和保护研究的分子标记。*使用非结构化三维流体动力学模型来研究苏格兰西海岸幼虫的运动模式。这将使区域之间的可变性和连通性得以量化，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活跃地区关键双壳类生产地的水动力学模型。

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.