Molecular ecology meets remote sensing: environmental drivers to population structure of humpback dolphins in the Western Indian Ocean

Mendez, Martín; Subramaniam, Ajit; Collins, Tim; Minton, Gianna; Baldwin, R.M.; Berggren, Per; Särnblad, Anna; Amir, Omar; Peddemors, Victor M.; Karczmarski, Leszek; Guissamulo, Almeida; Rosenbaum, Howard C.

doi:10.1038/hdy.2011.21

Cited by 49 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…Evidence from a number of regional genetic studies suggests more complex population structure than accounted for in the current stock designations, results that echo similar findings for other highly migratory cetacean species in both hemispheres (e.g. Mendez et al 2011, Costa-Urrutia et al 2013.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 66%

“…using approximate Bayesian computation analysis; Fontaine et al 2014). Highly asymmetric gene flow from populations in East Africa to Arabia has also been observed for humpback dolphins (Mendez et al 2011) and has been attributed in part to the dominant oceanographic current systems of these coasts, which facilitate northward connectivity but not southward movement. While recognizing that drivers of connectivity for a nearshore small cetacean and an offshore baleen whale may not be directly comparable, it may be pertinent to explore whether this represents a general pattern for cetaceans in the Indian Ocean.…”

Section: Genetic Isolation Of Bsg and Ashw And Fidelity To Feeding Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

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First circumglobal assessment of Southern Hemisphere humpback whale mitochondrial genetic variation and implications for management

Rosenbaum¹,

Kershaw²,

Mendez³

et al. 2017

Endang. Species. Res.

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The description of genetic population structure over a species' geographic range can provide insights into its evolutionary history and also support effective management efforts. Assessments for globally distributed species are rare, however, requiring significant international coordination and collaboration. The global distribution of demographically discrete populations for the humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae is not fully known, hampering the definition of appropriate management units. Here, we present the first circumglobal assessment of mitochondrial genetic population structure across the species' range in the Southern Hemisphere and Arabian Sea. We combine new and existing data from the mitochondrial (mt)DNA control region that resulted in a 311 bp consensus sequence of the mtDNA control region for 3009 individuals sampled across 14 breeding stocks and subpopulations currently recognized by the International Whaling Commission. We assess genetic diversity and test for genetic differentiation and also estimate the magnitude and directionality of historic matrilineal gene flow between putative populations. Our results indicate that maternally directed site fidelity drives significant genetic population structure between breeding stocks within ocean basins. However, patterns of connectivity differ across the circumpolar range, possibly as a result of differences in the extent of longitudinal movements on feeding areas. The number of population comparisons observed to be significantly differentiated were found to diminish at the subpopulation scale when nucleotide differences were examined, indicating that more complex processes underlie genetic structure at this scale. It is crucial that these complexities and uncertainties are afforded greater consideration in management and regulatory efforts.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 66%

Section: Genetic Isolation Of Bsg and Ashw And Fidelity To Feeding Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

First circumglobal assessment of Southern Hemisphere humpback whale mitochondrial genetic variation and implications for management

Rosenbaum¹,

Kershaw²,

Mendez³

et al. 2017

Endang. Species. Res.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…North Sea), its population structure appears to correlate strongly with environmental differences (Natoli et al 6 2005), consistent with suggestions that differences in habitat requirements drive population structure in 7 cetaceans (Mendez et al 2011;Amaral et al 2012). In the Atlantic, populations typically segregate between 8 lineages inhabiting pelagic and coastal environments (Hoelzel et al 1998, Natoli et al 2004, and mitogenomic 9 analysis showed that in European waters, these two ecotypes show incomplete lineage sorting (Moura et al …”

supporting

confidence: 55%

Drivers of Population Structure of the Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea

et al. 2015

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“…These were night-time sea surface temperature (SST, °C), chlorophyll concentration (CHL, mg/m 3 ) and water turbidity measured as diffuse attenuation coefficient at 490 nm (KD490, m −1 ). These variables, here obtained from remote sensing data, have been previously related to habitat heterogeneity [54] and associated with genetic differences in other dolphin species [17]. Furthermore, the oceanographic variables chosen have a wide geographic coverage through remote sensing, making them ideal for a global approach.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seascape Genetics of a Globally Distributed, Highly Mobile Marine Mammal: The Short-Beaked Common Dolphin (Genus Delphinus)

et al. 2012

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Identifying which factors shape the distribution of intraspecific genetic diversity is central in evolutionary and conservation biology. In the marine realm, the absence of obvious barriers to dispersal can make this task more difficult. Nevertheless, recent studies have provided valuable insights into which factors may be shaping genetic structure in the world's oceans. These studies were, however, generally conducted on marine organisms with larval dispersal. Here, using a seascape genetics approach, we show that marine productivity and sea surface temperature are correlated with genetic structure in a highly mobile, widely distributed marine mammal species, the short-beaked common dolphin. Isolation by distance also appears to influence population divergence over larger geographical scales (i.e. across different ocean basins). We suggest that the relationship between environmental variables and population structure may be caused by prey behaviour, which is believed to determine common dolphins' movement patterns and preferred associations with certain oceanographic conditions. Our study highlights the role of oceanography in shaping genetic structure of a highly mobile and widely distributed top marine predator. Thus, seascape genetic studies can potentially track the biological effects of ongoing climate-change at oceanographic interfaces and also inform marine reserve design in relation to the distribution and genetic connectivity of charismatic and ecologically important megafauna.

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Molecular ecology meets remote sensing: environmental drivers to population structure of humpback dolphins in the Western Indian Ocean

Cited by 49 publications

References 60 publications

First circumglobal assessment of Southern Hemisphere humpback whale mitochondrial genetic variation and implications for management

First circumglobal assessment of Southern Hemisphere humpback whale mitochondrial genetic variation and implications for management

Drivers of Population Structure of the Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea

Seascape Genetics of a Globally Distributed, Highly Mobile Marine Mammal: The Short-Beaked Common Dolphin (Genus Delphinus)

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