Genetics of Larval Tolerance to Reduced Salinities in Two Populations of Oysters, Crassostrea virginica

Abstract

Oysters, Crassostrea virginica (Gemlin), were taken from a low- and an intermediate-salinity habitat. Males from each population were crossed with females from both populations and the offspring were raised at three salinities. Observations on survival during the larval period indicate that there are genetic differences between the two populations with regard to their tolerance to high and low salinity.