Insights into the genetic diversity of the leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx), inferred
from mitochondrial DNA analysis, at Danco Coast, Antarctic Peninsula

Hernández, Laura; Barragán‐Barrera, Dalia C.; Negrete, Javier; Poljak, Sebastián; Riet-Sapriza, Federico G.; Caballero, Susana

doi:10.25268/bimc.invemar.2021.50.suplesp.951

Cited by 2 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…Our estimates of nucleotide and haplotype diversity for leopard seals were comparable to findings in other phocid species. Haplotype diversity (0.96) aligned with reports for southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina, Hd = 0.96, N = 203) [74] and Weddell seals (Hd = 0.98, N = 181) [72], but was lower than a previous assessment for leopard seals based on a much smaller number of samples (Hd = 0.99; N = 13) [43]. Haplotype diversity was moderate compared to hooded seals (Cystophora cristata; Hd � 1.0, N = 123) [75] but high compared to species that experienced strong bottlenecks such as northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris; Hd = 0.41; N = 185) [76].…”

Section: Genetic Diversitysupporting

confidence: 68%

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Genetic diversity and demographic history of the leopard seal: A Southern Ocean top predator

et al. 2023

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Leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) are top predators that can exert substantial top-down control of their Antarctic prey species. However, population trends and genetic diversity of leopard seals remain understudied, limiting our understanding of their ecological role. We investigated the genetic diversity, effective population size and demographic history of leopard seals to provide fundamental data that contextualizes their predatory influence on Antarctic ecosystems. Ninety leopard seals were sampled from the northern Antarctic Peninsula during the austral summers of 2008–2019 and a 405bp segment of the mitochondrial control region was sequenced for each individual. We uncovered moderate levels of nucleotide (π = 0.013) and haplotype (Hd = 0.96) diversity, and the effective population size was estimated at around 24,000 individuals (NE = 24,376; 95% CI: 16,876–33,126). Consistent with findings from other ice-breeding pinnipeds, Bayesian skyline analysis also revealed evidence for population expansion during the last glacial maximum, suggesting that historical population growth may have been boosted by an increase in the abundance of sea ice. Although leopard seals can be found in warmer, sub-Antarctic locations, the species’ core habitat is centered on the Antarctic, making it inherently vulnerable to the loss of sea ice habitat due to climate change. Therefore, detailed assessments of past and present leopard seal population trends are needed to inform policies for Antarctic ecosystems.

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Section: Genetic Diversitysupporting

confidence: 68%

“…Therefore, genetic approaches have great potential to aid in our basic understanding of leopard seal population dynamics. To date, published genetic analyses of leopard seals are limited [42,43] and descriptions of key demographic parameters are lacking.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic diversity and demographic history of the leopard seal: A Southern Ocean top predator

et al. 2023

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“…For this reason, BSP analyses of significantly structured populations require a pooled sample approach (e.g., pooling samples from each sub-population) [54]. However, the only population structure study on leopard seals, based on the microsatellite genotypes of individuals sampled from six Antarctic and sub-Antarctic locations, revealed only very low levels of population differentiation (FST = 0.001 (-0.002, 0.006)) [25], which appears negligible in this context. Additional historical demography analyses of leopard seals incorporating expanded geographic sampling should help clarify this finding.…”

Section: Demographic Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, genetic approaches have great potential to aid in our basic understanding of leopard seal population dynamics. To date, published genetic analyses of leopard seals are limited [25,26] and descriptions of key demographic parameters such as N E are lacking. [27,28] and can disproportionally impact ecosystems [29].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic diversity and demographic history of the leopard seal: a Southern Ocean top predator

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et al. 2023

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Leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) are top predators that can exert substantial top-down control of their Antarctic prey species. However, population trends and genetic diversity of leopard seals remain understudied, limiting our understanding of their ecological role. We investigated the genetic diversity, effective population size and demographic history of leopard seals to provide fundamental data that contextualizes their predatory influence on Antarctic ecosystems. Ninety leopard seals were sampled in the northern Antarctic Peninsula, during the austral summers of 2008–2019 and a 405bp region of the mitochondrial control region was sequenced for each individual. We uncovered moderate levels of nucleotide (π = 0.013) and haplotype (Hd = 0.96) diversity, and the effective population size was estimated at around 24,000 individuals (NE = 24,376; range 16,876 – 33,126). Consistent with findings from other ice-breeding pinnipeds, Bayesian skyline analysis also revealed evidence for population expansion during the last glacial maximum, suggesting that historical population growth may have been boosted by an increase in the abundance of sea ice. Although leopard seals can be found in warmer, sub-Antarctic locations, the species' core habitat is centered around the Antarctic, making it inherently vulnerable to the loss of sea ice habitat due to climate change. Therefore, detailed assessments of past and present leopard seal population trends are needed to inform policies for Antarctic ecosystems.

show abstract

Insights into the genetic diversity of the leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx), inferred from mitochondrial DNA analysis, at Danco Coast, Antarctic Peninsula

Cited by 2 publications

References 50 publications

Genetic diversity and demographic history of the leopard seal: A Southern Ocean top predator

Genetic diversity and demographic history of the leopard seal: A Southern Ocean top predator

Genetic diversity and demographic history of the leopard seal: a Southern Ocean top predator

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