Paternity assignment and demographic closure in the New Zealand southern right whale

Carroll, Emma L.; Childerhouse, Simon; Christie, Mark R.; Lavery, Shane; Patenaude, Nathalie J.; Alexander, Alana; Constantine, Rochelle; Steel, Debbie; Boren, Laura J.; Baker, C. Scott

doi:10.1111/j.1365-294x.2012.05676.x

Cited by 22 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…Female philopatry and migration patterns are known to have a strong influence on population structure in large mammals [8], [9], as observed in humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae [10], northern and southern right whales Eubalaena glacialis and E. australis respectively [11], [12], [13], grey whales, Eschrichtius robustus [14], [15], and sperm whales, Physeter macrocephalus , [16], [17]. Recently, maternal site fidelity was also suggested for the Antarctic blue whales ( Balaenoptera musculus intermedia ), that showed divergence in mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite markers among the six feeding grounds in the Antarctic [18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Fine-Scale Population Structure of Blue Whale Wintering Aggregations in the Gulf of California

et al. 2013

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Population differentiation in environments without well-defined geographical barriers represents a challenge for wildlife management. Based on a comprehensive database of individual sighting records (1988–2009) of blue whales from the winter/calving Gulf of California, we assessed the fine-scale genetic and spatial structure of the population using individual-based approaches. Skin samples of 187 individuals were analyzed for nine microsatellite loci. A single population with no divergence among years and months and no isolation by distance (Rxy = 0.1–0.001, p>0.05) were found. We ran two Bayesian clustering methods using Structure and Geneland softwares in two different ways: 1) a general analysis including all individuals in which a single cluster was identified with both softwares; 2) a specific analysis of females only in which two main clusters (Loreto Bay and northern areas, and San Jose-La Paz Bay area) were revealed by Geneland program. This study provides information indicating that blue whales wintering in the Gulf of California are part of a single population unit and showed a fine-scale structure among females, possibly associated with their high site fidelity, particularly when attending calves. It is likely that the loss of genetic variation is minimized by male mediated gene flow, which may reduce the genetic drift effect. Opportunities for kin selection may also influence calf survival and, in consequence, have a positive impact on population demography in this small and endangered population.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Fine-Scale Population Structure of Blue Whale Wintering Aggregations in the Gulf of California

et al. 2013

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“…; Carroll et al . ). However, despite the overall patterns of male‐biased dispersal and gene flow, significant microsatellite differentiation between oceans indicates some restriction in oceanic dispersal and gene flow, even of males.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

What influences the worldwide genetic structure of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus)?

et al. 2016

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The interplay of natural selection and genetic drift, influenced by geographic isolation, mating systems and population size, determines patterns of genetic diversity within species. The sperm whale provides an interesting example of a long-lived species with few geographic barriers to dispersal. Worldwide mtDNA diversity is relatively low, but highly structured among geographic regions and social groups, attributed to female philopatry. However, it is unclear whether this female philopatry is due to geographic regions or social groups, or how this might vary on a worldwide scale. To answer these questions, we combined mtDNA information for 1091 previously published samples with 542 newly obtained DNA profiles (394-bp mtDNA, sex, 13 microsatellites) including the previously unsampled Indian Ocean, and social group information for 541 individuals. We found low mtDNA diversity (π = 0.430%) reflecting an expansion event <80 000 years bp, but strong differentiation by ocean, among regions within some oceans, and among social groups. In comparison, microsatellite differentiation was low at all levels, presumably due to male-mediated gene flow. A hierarchical amova showed that regions were important for explaining mtDNA variance in the Indian Ocean, but not Pacific, with social group sampling in the Atlantic too limited to include in analyses. Social groups were important in partitioning mtDNA and microsatellite variance within both oceans. Therefore, both geographic philopatry and social philopatry influence genetic structure in the sperm whale, but their relative importance differs by sex and ocean, reflecting breeding behaviour, geographic features and perhaps a more recent origin of sperm whales in the Pacific. By investigating the interplay of evolutionary forces operating at different temporal and geographic scales, we show that sperm whales are perhaps a unique example of a worldwide population expansion followed by rapid assortment due to female social organization.

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“…), this finding is consistent with a recent paternity study showing that SRWs returning to the NZ calving ground are reproductively self‐sustaining on a generational timescale (Carroll et al . ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Reestablishment of former wintering grounds by New Zealand southern right whales

Carroll

Rayment

Alexander

et al. 2013

Marine Mammal Science

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Historically, the range of the southern right whale (SRW) included winter calving grounds around the North and South Islands (mainland) of New Zealand (NZ) and in the NZ subantarctic Auckland and Campbell Islands. Due to extensive whaling in the 19th and 20th centuries, no SRW was seen around mainland NZ for nearly four decades (1928–1963). Here we present evidence for the regular use of the mainland NZ wintering ground, presumably from a remnant population that persisted in the NZ subantarctic Auckland and Campbell Islands. SRWs have been sighted every year around mainland NZ since 1988, with 125 sightings during the focus of this work: from 2003 to 2010. There were 28 cow‐calf pairs sighted around mainland NZ from 2003 to 2010, compared with 11 sightings from 1991 to 2002. Furthermore, two females, identified by DNA profiles, were sighted with calves around mainland at 4 yr intervals: the first evidence of female site fidelity to the mainland NZ calving ground. Individual identification from photographs of natural markings and DNA profiles provided information on within‐year movements and residency around the mainland, and further evidence for exchange between the mainland and subantarctic wintering grounds. Despite these promising signs, the distribution of NZ SRWs remains primarily concentrated in the NZ subantarctic.

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Paternity assignment and demographic closure in the New Zealand southern right whale

Cited by 22 publications

References 58 publications

Fine-Scale Population Structure of Blue Whale Wintering Aggregations in the Gulf of California

Fine-Scale Population Structure of Blue Whale Wintering Aggregations in the Gulf of California

What influences the worldwide genetic structure of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus)?

Reestablishment of former wintering grounds by New Zealand southern right whales

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