Aquaculture Research, 2006, 1^6 doi:10.1111/j.1365-2109.2006.01524.x Microsatellite variability in natural populations of the blackspot seabream Pagellus bogaraveo (Bru¨nnick, 1768): a database to access parentage assignment in aquaculture Andreia Lemos1, Ana Isabel Freitas2, Ana Teresa Fernandes2, Rita Gonc°alves2,Jose¤Jesus1, Carlos Andrade3 & Anto¤nio Brehm2 1Department of Biology,University of Madeira, Funchal, Portugal 2Human Genetics Laboratory,University of Madeira, Funchal, Portugal 3Centro de Maricultura da Calheta, Calheta, Portugal Correspondence: A Brehm, Human Genetics Laboratory, University of Madeira, Campus of Penteada, 9000-390 Funchal, Portugal. E-mail:
[email protected] Abstract ing of natural populations is not now su⁄cient to supply the global demand for most species. Thus, the Eight microsatellite loci previously reported were as- need for aquaculture production is in continuous de- sessed for their utility in parentage assignment in 96 mand, which implies the development of ¢sh farming individuals belonging to natural populations of the programmes and the establishment of successful blackspot seabream Pagellus bogaraveo (Brˇnnick, breeding strategies.The sustainability of these strate- 1768) from the Mediterranean and Northeast Atlantic gies requires a precise knowledge of the genetic regions. At the mtDNA level, no di¡erentiation was variability of wild populations from which indivi- found between these two regions but based on micro- duals are selected to start breeding programmes satellite data an overall discrete genetic di¡erentiation (Knibb, Gorshkova & Gorshkov 1998). Knowing indi- is perceivable between the two regions separated by vidual genetic pro¢les is therefore essential if trait se- the Strait of Gibraltar.The number of alleles per locus lection (e.g.