Genetic characterisation of several tidal organisms along a pollution gradient in the Scheldt estuary

The genetic population structure of natural populations of the indirect developing (i.e. planctonic development) periwinkle, Littorina littorea and of the direct developer (i.e. non-planctonic development) L. saxatilis will be determined and compared. Populations will be collected along the polluted western and the relatively clean eastern Scheldt estuary. Hence, we will try to determine to what extent pollution affects the population genetic structure of both periwinkles, and which are the responsible mechanisms.