Genomic resource development of shellfish of conservation concern

**This is a pre-peer reviewed versio of the following article: Timmins-Schiffman EB, Friedman CS, Metzger DC, White SJ, Roberts SB (2012) Genomic resource development for shellfish of conservation concern. Molecular Ecology Resources, doi: 10.1111/1755-0998.12052, which has been published in final form at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1755-0998.12052/abstract**

Effective conservation of threatened species depends on the ability to assess organism physiology and population demography. In order to develop genomic resources to better understand the dynamics of two ecologically vulnerable species in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, larval transcriptomes were sequenced for the pinto abalone Haliotis kamtschatkana kamtschatkana and the Olympia oyster Ostrea lurida. Based on comparative species analysis the Ostrea lurida transcriptome (41,136 contigs) is relatively complete. These transcriptomes represent the first significant contribution to genomic resources for both species. Genes are described based on biological function with a particular attention to those associated with temperature change, oxidative stress, and immune function. In addition, transcriptome derived genetic markers are provided. Together, these resources provide valuable tools for future studies aimed at conservation of Haliotis kamtschatkana, Ostrea lurida and related species.