The population genetic structure and oceanographic boundaries to gene flow are relevant for understanding biological connectivity in marine environments. However, the relative contribution of historical (e.g., sea-level change) and recent (e.g., fisheries) processes in shaping current patterns of genetic structure and diversity are commonly unknown. This study focuses in the population genetics of the commercially harvested Tehuelche scallop, Aequipecten tehuelchus. This species presents three morphotypes; tehuelchus, madrynensis, and a non-common variant felipponei, which are meristically differentiated by the number of ribs. The genetic structure of the two main morphotypes (tehuelchus and madrynensis) was studied using microsatellite loci in seven locations of the Argentine coast. Historic demography analyses revealed a trend of population expansion after the last glacial period. Two genetic groups were detected that correspond to morphotypes distributed northward (tehuelchus) and southward (madrynensis) of the Peninsula Valdés tidal front. On the other hand, the lack of genetic differentiation among locations with fishery activity in the northern cluster indicates that the commercially exploited demes may belong to a single genetic stock. As this stock is distributed in waters under federal and provincial jurisdictions, the findings highlight the need to integrate management of the species across political boundaries.

种群遗传结构和海洋学对基因流的边界与理解海洋环境中的生物连通性有关。但是，历史（例如，海平面变化）和最近（例如，渔业）过程在塑造当前遗传结构和多样性模式方面的相对贡献通常是未知的。这项研究的重点是商业化收获的扇贝（Tehuelche）扇贝（Aequipecten tehuelchus）的种群遗传学。该物种表现出三种形态型。tehuelchus，madrynensis和非常见变种felipponei，通过肋骨的数量在分化上有所区别。两种主要形态型（tehuelchus和tehuelchus）的遗传结构。在阿根廷海岸的七个位置使用微卫星基因座研究了madrynensis）。历史人口统计分析显示，上个冰期之后，人口呈增长趋势。检测到两个基因组，分别对应于半岛瓦尔代斯潮汐锋向北（tehuelchus）和向南（madrynensis）分布的形态类型。另一方面，北部集群中具有渔业活动的地区之间缺乏遗传分化，这表明商业开发的物种可能属于单一遗传种群。由于该种群分布在联邦和省管辖范围内的水域中，因此研究结果突显了需要跨政治边界整合对物种的管理。