Meeting Abstract

P1.2  Thursday, Jan. 3  Population genetics and ecology as tools for the conservation of Cittarium pica MEYER, Erin/L; University of California, Berkeley emeyer@berkeley.edu

The two large (>100 mm) gastropods of the Neotropical Western Atlantic have been used by humans since prehistoric times and both are currently threatened by over-exploitation. The Caribbean queen conch, Strombus gigas, is harvested commercially and managed on a national level by some countries. The West Indian topshell, Cittarium pica, is exploited non-commercially for both food and bait and is of special concern because its rocky intertidal habitat and high visibility make it readily susceptible to extirpation by humans. Although it suffered local extinction in Bermuda sometime between the Pleistocene and the mid-1600�s, it was successfully reintroduced and targeted for protection and management. Because most populations of C. pica are present on islands, they are geographically isolated from neighboring populations but could be connected via oceanic currents carrying their non-feeding planktonic larvae. Genetic variation can be used to identify the network of these connections and is key to revealing which populations have the highest extinction risk. As a first step in characterizing the population structure throughout the Neotropical Western Atlantic, an intensive molecular genetic survey of five local populations of C. pica in Bermuda has been undertaken. An ongoing study of the life history and demographic structure of the species in Bermuda provides an additional basis for predicting dispersal potentials, in conjunction with biogeographic mapping of extant populations, suitable habitats, and potential predators. These data combined with an assessment of the geographic distribution of current marine reserves and management plans will determine the feasibility of developing local conservation and management strategies for C. pica, with the ultimate goal of developing a regional plan.