Biogeography in the deep: Hierarchical population genomic structure of two beaked whale species

Genomics reveals the role of admixture in the evolution of structure among sperm whale populations within the Mediterranean Sea

“…Within the Mediterranean, we report weak differentiation between the basins either side of Italy and the Strait of Sicily, as observed in other species (e.g., bottlenose dolphin in Gaspari et al, 2015; Natoli et al, 2005; striped dolphin in Gaspari et al, 2007; Cuvier's beaked whale in Onoufriou et al, 2022). The relatively shallow sill at the Strait of Messina and the Sicilian Channel, and the differential current patterns in the two basins probably reinforce this boundary.…”

“…Pairwise comparison between these two areas in our study based on 12,616 SNP markers reveals a low but significant value ( F ST = 0.03454, p = .000), consistent with that reported in Engelhaupt et al (2009; where F ST = 0.034, p = .022 based on 16 microsatellite DNA markers). Significant genetic division between the Atlantic and Mediterranean areas has also been documented for other cetaceans such as fin whale ( Balaenoptera physalus ; Bérubé et al, 1998; Palsbøll et al, 2004), bottlenose dolphin ( T. truncatus ; Natoli et al, 2005) and Cuvier's beaked whale ( Ziphius cavirostris ; Onoufriou et al, 2022), and for other top predators such as swordfish ( Xiphias gladius ; Smith et al, 2015) and the blue fin tuna ( Thunnus thynnus ; Puncher et al, 2018). Our findings from lea and admixture were consistent with Atlantic ancestry of the Mediterranean populations.…”

Genetic investigation of Cuvier's beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris, along the coast of Türkiye and Northern Cyprus, based on mtDNA sequences

“…Further studies are needed to understand their distribution in the Mediterranean Sea, so that conservation measures against anthropogenic stress such as seismic surveys and naval exercises can be managed appropriately. Onoufriou et al (2022) showed that the differentiation observed in marine taxa due to the Sicilian Strait, which divides the Mediterranean Sea into west and east, is also seen in Z. cavirostris. We acknowledge that our inferences are based on a limited number of samples; it is important that it fills the sample gap especially eastern Mediterranean population of Z. cavirostris.…”

Mitochondrial genetic variation in false killer whale groups (Pseudorca crassidens) from the Mexican Pacific reveal strong regional differentiation

“…Information on diversity and genetic structure of cetaceans can be useful to define conservation units, through considering both the existence of substantial reproductive isolation of population segments of a species, or by understanding the importance of that population segment in the evolutionary history of the species (Kraft et al, 2020; Morin & Dizon, 2018; Onoufriou et al, 2022).…”