Nothing is as it seems: genetic analyses on stranded fin whales unveil the presence of a fin-blue whale hybrid in the Mediterranean Sea (Balaenopteridae)

Fioravanti, Tatiana; Maio, Nicola; Latini, Lucrezia; Splendiani, Andrea; Guarino, Fabio Maria; Mezzasalma, Marcello; Petraccioli, Agnese; Cozzi, Bruno; Mazzariol, Sandro; Centelleghe, Cinzia; Sciancalepore, Giuseppe; Podestà, Michela; Barucchi, Vincenzo Caputo

doi:10.1080/24750263.2022.2063426

Cited by 7 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…In spite of their high morphological variability, cetaceans exhibit an elevated karyotypic uniformity which supports the possibility of hybridization [32]. In fact, several intraand intergeneric hybrids, both in captivity and in the wild, have been reported [33][34][35][36][37]. Cetaceans' ethology and the marine environment itself make for a difficult estimation, especially through molecular evidence, of the real extent of these phenomena if compared with terrestrial species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Reliable and Cost-Efficient PCR-RFLP Tool for the Rapid Identification of Cetaceans in the Mediterranean Sea

et al. 2022

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Twenty-five species of cetaceans have been reported throughout the Mediterranean Sea, eight of them are commonly distributed in the whole basin and are regularly found beached or adrift in the sea. Stranded animals are frequently found in poor conservation status, preventing reliable identification; identification is thus often based solely on morphological features. Therewith, molecular tools are especially useful to provide taxonomic identification. In this work, a four-enzymes PCR-RFLP in silico protocol, based on a fragment of the mitochondrial gene cytb, has been designed for cetacean species occurring in the Mediterranean Sea. Moreover, beached or floating specimen samples belonging to the eight common species have been tested in the laboratory, providing evidence that this approach represents a reliable, cost- and time-effective tool for their specific identification.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Reliable and Cost-Efficient PCR-RFLP Tool for the Rapid Identification of Cetaceans in the Mediterranean Sea

et al. 2022

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“…Molecular techniques have been used, for example, to differentiate the two morphologically similar species of pilot whales (Globicephala spp.) in strandings that have occurred where their distributions overlap [22], to confirm the first record of a True's beaked whale (Mesoplodon mirus) for New Zealand waters [21], and even to unveil the presence of a fin-blue whale hybrid [24], demonstrating the valuable information that this method can contribute.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Genetic Analysis as a Tool to Improve the Monitoring of Stranded Cetaceans in Chile

Kraft

Rodríguez

Olavarría

et al. 2023

Biology

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Cetacean strandings are a valuable source of information for several studies from species richness to conservation and management. During the examination of strandings, taxonomic and sex identification might be hindered for several reasons. Molecular techniques are valuable tools to obtain that missing information. This study evaluates how gene fragment amplification protocols can support the records of strandings done in the field in Chile by identifying, corroborating, or correcting the identification of the species and sex of the recorded individuals. Through a collaboration between a scientific laboratory and government institution in Chile, 63 samples were analyzed. Thirty-nine samples were successfully identified to the species level. In total, 17 species of six families were detected, including six species of conservation interest. Of the 39 samples, 29 corresponded to corroborations of field identifications. Seven corresponded to unidentified samples and three to corrected misidentifications, adding up to 28% of the identified samples. Sex was successfully identified for 58 of the 63 individuals. Twenty were corroborations, 34 were previously unidentified, and four were corrections. Applying this method improves the stranding database of Chile and provides new data for future management and conservation tasks.

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“…All events for which discrepancies could not be resolved and, in general, could not be attributed with certainty to fin whales, were discarded. The specimen recently identified as a hybrid between a fin whale and a blue whale [ 54 ] was included in the final dataset based on the fact that the proportion of animals sampled for similar investigations across the years is unknown and as a consequence, several other specimens identified as a fin whale could in fact have been a hybrid animal that went unknown. Strandings of live animals that were refloated or reached the open sea (i.e., did not die) were excluded from the dataset.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) Mortality along the Italian Coast between 1624 and 2021

Manfrini¹,

Pierantonio

Giuliani

et al. 2022

Animals

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The Mediterranean Sea hosts a population of fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), the only species of Mysticete regularly occurring in the basin. Observed and inferred mortality suggests that the population is likely declining. Accordingly, understanding the causes of mortality and assessing the health status is pivotal to the survival of this endangered population. While such studies are inherently difficult for a highly roaming species with a pelagic distribution, mortality events provide the opportunity to investigate biological and epidemiological traits linked to these events, and evaluate the footprint of human activity, especially when long-term data series exist. We present a comprehensive spatial–temporal overview of fin whale mortality events along the Italian coast encompassing four centuries (1624–2021). Time series analysis was used to highlight structural changes in the evolution of mortality through time, while spatial–temporal patterns in the distribution of mortality events were assessed through emerging hot spot analysis methods. Recent mortality events (1964–2021) were further explored to evaluate, where possible, the primary causes of mortality and to identify anthropogenic threats of conservation concerns. This long-term survey offers the basis for an understanding of the health status of this B. physalus population and provides much-needed information for developing an effective management and conservation plan for the species in the region.

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Nothing is as it seems: genetic analyses on stranded fin whales unveil the presence of a fin-blue whale hybrid in the Mediterranean Sea (Balaenopteridae)

Cited by 7 publications

References 48 publications

A Reliable and Cost-Efficient PCR-RFLP Tool for the Rapid Identification of Cetaceans in the Mediterranean Sea

A Reliable and Cost-Efficient PCR-RFLP Tool for the Rapid Identification of Cetaceans in the Mediterranean Sea

Genetic Analysis as a Tool to Improve the Monitoring of Stranded Cetaceans in Chile

Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) Mortality along the Italian Coast between 1624 and 2021

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