Australian sperm whales from different whaling stocks belong to the same population. Issue 6 (11th January 2021)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- Australian sperm whales from different whaling stocks belong to the same population. Issue 6 (11th January 2021)
- Main Title:
- Australian sperm whales from different whaling stocks belong to the same population
- Authors:
- Day, Joanna
Power, David
Gales, Rosemary
Bannister, John
Piggott, Maxine P.
Bilgmann, Kerstin
Harcourt, Robert
Beheregaray, Luciano B.
Möller, Luciana M. - Abstract:
- Abstract: Understanding the factors driving population structure in marine mammals is needed to evaluate the impacts of previous exploitation, current anthropogenic threats, conservation status, and success of population recovery efforts. Sperm whales are characterized by a worldwide distribution, low genetic diversity, complex patterns of social and genetic structure that differ significantly within and between ocean basins, and a long history of being commercially whaled. In Australia, sperm whales from the (International Whaling Commission assigned) southern hemisphere 'Division 5' stock were very heavily exploited by whaling. The present study assessed the potential effects of whaling on the genetic diversity of sperm whales in Australia and the population genetic structure of these whales within a global context. A combination of historical and contemporary sperm whale samples ( n = 157) were analysed across six regions, from south‐eastern Australia ('Division 6' stock in the Pacific Ocean) to south‐western Australia ('Division 5' stock in the Indian Ocean). Sperm whales sampled from the 'Division 5' and 'Division 6' stocks belong to the same population based on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analyses. Four novel sperm whale mtDNA haplotypes were identified in animals from Australian waters. Levels of genetic diversity were low in Australian sperm whales but were similar to those previously reported for populations in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Given theAbstract: Understanding the factors driving population structure in marine mammals is needed to evaluate the impacts of previous exploitation, current anthropogenic threats, conservation status, and success of population recovery efforts. Sperm whales are characterized by a worldwide distribution, low genetic diversity, complex patterns of social and genetic structure that differ significantly within and between ocean basins, and a long history of being commercially whaled. In Australia, sperm whales from the (International Whaling Commission assigned) southern hemisphere 'Division 5' stock were very heavily exploited by whaling. The present study assessed the potential effects of whaling on the genetic diversity of sperm whales in Australia and the population genetic structure of these whales within a global context. A combination of historical and contemporary sperm whale samples ( n = 157) were analysed across six regions, from south‐eastern Australia ('Division 6' stock in the Pacific Ocean) to south‐western Australia ('Division 5' stock in the Indian Ocean). Sperm whales sampled from the 'Division 5' and 'Division 6' stocks belong to the same population based on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analyses. Four novel sperm whale mtDNA haplotypes were identified in animals from Australian waters. Levels of genetic diversity were low in Australian sperm whales but were similar to those previously reported for populations in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Given the genetic distinctiveness of sperm whales in Australian waters from other regions in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and the lack of recovery in population numbers, further scientific studies are needed to increase our understanding of population dynamics and the effectiveness of threat management strategies in this species. … (more)
- Is Part Of:
- Aquatic conservation. Volume 31:Issue 6(2021)
- Journal:
- Aquatic conservation
- Issue:
- Volume 31:Issue 6(2021)
- Issue Display:
- Volume 31, Issue 6 (2021)
- Year:
- 2021
- Volume:
- 31
- Issue:
- 6
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2021-0031-0006-0000
- Page Start:
- 1452
- Page End:
- 1465
- Publication Date:
- 2021-01-11
- Subjects:
- historical DNA -- Physeter macrocephalus -- population genetics -- sperm whale -- whaling
Aquatic ecology -- Periodicals
Conservation of natural resources -- Periodicals
Aquatic resources -- Periodicals
333.95216 - Journal URLs:
- http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/ ↗
- DOI:
- 10.1002/aqc.3494 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 1052-7613
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library DSC - 1582.371000
British Library DSC - BLDSS-3PM
British Library HMNTS - ELD Digital store - Ingest File:
- 17210.xml