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Bender AN, Krause DJ, Goebel ME, Hoffman JI, Lewallen EA, Bonin CA. Genetic diversity and demographic history of the leopard seal: A Southern Ocean top predator. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0284640. [PMID: 37566609 PMCID: PMC10420386 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
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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Affiliation(s)
- Arona N. Bender
- Marine and Environmental Sciences Department, Hampton University, Hampton, VA, United States of America
| | - Douglas J. Krause
- Antarctic Ecosystem Research Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Michael E. Goebel
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United States of America
| | - Joseph I. Hoffman
- Department of Animal Behaviour, University of Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany
- British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Eric A. Lewallen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Hampton University, Hampton, VA, United States of America
| | - Carolina A. Bonin
- Marine and Environmental Sciences Department, Hampton University, Hampton, VA, United States of America
- Department of Biological Sciences, Hampton University, Hampton, VA, United States of America
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2
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Liu X, Schjøtt SR, Granquist SM, Rosing-Asvid A, Dietz R, Teilmann J, Galatius A, Cammen K, O Corry-Crowe G, Harding K, Härkönen T, Hall A, Carroll EL, Kobayashi Y, Hammill M, Stenson G, Frie AK, Lydersen C, Kovacs KM, Andersen LW, Hoffman JI, Goodman SJ, Vieira FG, Heller R, Moltke I, Tange Olsen M. Origin and expansion of the world's most widespread pinniped: range-wide population genomics of the harbour seal (Phoca vitulina). Mol Ecol 2022; 31:1682-1699. [PMID: 35068013 PMCID: PMC9306526 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) is the most widely distributed pinniped, occupying a wide variety of habitats and climatic zones across the Northern Hemisphere. Intriguingly, the harbour seal is also one of the most philopatric seals, raising questions as to how it colonised virtually the whole of the Northern Hemisphere. To shed light on the origin, remarkable range expansion, population structure and genetic diversity of this species, we used genotyping-by-sequencing to analyse ~13,500 biallelic SNPs from 286 individuals sampled from 22 localities across the species' range. Our results point to a Northeast Pacific origin, colonisation of the North Atlantic via the Canadian Arctic, and subsequent stepping-stone range expansions across the North Atlantic from North America to Europe, accompanied by a successive loss of genetic diversity. Our analyses further revealed a deep divergence between modern North Pacific and North Atlantic harbour seals, with finer-scale genetic structure at regional and local scales consistent with strong philopatry. The study provides new insights into the harbour seal's remarkable ability to colonise and adapt to a wide range of habitats. Furthermore, it has implications for current harbour seal subspecies delineations and highlights the need for international and national red lists and management plans to ensure the protection of genetically and demographically isolated populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodong Liu
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Sandra M Granquist
- Icelandic Seal Centre, Höfðabraut 6, 530, Hvammstangi, Iceland.,Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, Institute of Freshwater Fisheries Fornubúðir 5, 220, Hafnarfjörður, Iceland
| | | | - Rune Dietz
- Marine Mammal Research, Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Jonas Teilmann
- Marine Mammal Research, Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Anders Galatius
- Marine Mammal Research, Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | | | - Greg O Corry-Crowe
- Wildlife Evolution and Behavior Program, Florida Atlantic University, USA
| | - Karin Harding
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
| | | | - Ailsa Hall
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St. Andrews, UK, KY16 8LB
| | - Emma L Carroll
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand
| | - Yumi Kobayashi
- Laboratory of Animal Ecology, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Japan
| | - Mike Hammill
- Maurice Lamontagne Institute, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, P.O. Box 1000, Mont-Joli, QC, Canada
| | - Garry Stenson
- Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, P.O. Box 5667, St. John's NL, Canada
| | | | | | - Kit M Kovacs
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, 9296, Tromsø, Norway
| | | | - Joseph I Hoffman
- Department of Animal Behaviour, University of Bielefeld, 33501, Bielefeld, Germany.,British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 OET, UK
| | - Simon J Goodman
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, UK
| | - Filipe G Vieira
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospitalet, Denmark
| | - Rasmus Heller
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ida Moltke
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Morten Tange Olsen
- Section for Evolutionary Genomics, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
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3
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Nikolakis ZL, Orton RW, Crother BI. Fine‐scale population structure within an Eastern Nearctic snake complex (
Pituophis melanoleucus
). ZOOL SCR 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zachary L. Nikolakis
- Department of Biology Southeastern Louisiana University Hammond Louisina USA
- Department of Biology University of Texas at Arlington Arlington Texas USA
| | - Richard W. Orton
- Department of Biology University of Texas at Arlington Arlington Texas USA
| | - Brian I. Crother
- Department of Biology Southeastern Louisiana University Hammond Louisina USA
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ANTIBODIES AGAINST INFLUENZA VIRUS TYPES A AND B IN CANADIAN SEALS. J Wildl Dis 2021; 57:808-819. [PMID: 34410421 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-20-00175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Influenza viruses have been reported from marine mammals worldwide, particularly in pinnipeds, and have caused mass mortalities of seals in North America and Europe. Because influenza viruses in marine mammals can be zoonotic, our objective was to examine Canadian phocids for exposure to influenza A and B viruses in order to understand health risks to wild populations as well as to humans who consume or handle these animals. Blood was collected from 394 seals in eastern Canada from 1994 to 2005. Sera were screened for exposure to influenza viruses in three resident species of seals: harbour, Phoca vitulina (n=66); grey, Halichoerus grypus (n=82); ringed, Phoca hispida (n=2); and two migrant species: harp, Pagophilus groenlandica (n=206) and hooded, Cystophora cristata (n=38). Included were samples from captive grey (n=1) and harbour seals (n=8) at two aquaria. Sera were prescreened using indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and antibodies against influenza A virus were confirmed using a commercial competitive ELISA (IDEXX Europe B.V.). A subset of influenza A virus positive sera was used to determine common virus subtypes recognized by sera using reference strains. All positive sera in the indirect ELISA reacted with influenza A virus subtypes H3, H4, and H10 using a hemagglutination inhibition assay. Sera from harbour, grey, harp, and hooded seals had antibodies against influenza A and influenza B viruses (some cross-reactivity occurred). Overall, 33% (128/385) of wild seals were seropositive to influenza viruses, with the highest seroprevalence in harp (42%) followed by harbour (33%), grey (23%), and hooded (11%) seals. Antibodies were detected in both sexes and most age classes of wild seals. Two of eight captive harbour seals were seropositive to influenza B virus and four had cross-reactions to influenza A and B viruses. This study reports antibodies against influenza A and B viruses in four seal species from the same geographic area in eastern Canada.
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Frouin-Mouy HC, Hammill MO. In-air and underwater sounds of hooded seals during the breeding season in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2021; 150:281. [PMID: 34340494 DOI: 10.1121/10.0005478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The hooded seal is a migratory species inhabiting the North Atlantic. Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) conducted over spatial scales consistent with their known and potential habitat could provide insight into seasonal and spatial occurrence patterns of this species. Hooded seal airborne and underwater acoustic signals were recorded during the breeding season on the pack ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence in March 2018 to better characterize their acoustic repertoire (notably underwater calls). In-air and underwater signals were classified into 12 and 22 types, respectively. Signals produced by males through the inflation and deflation of the proboscis and septum were the predominant sounds heard on the ice surface. Five of the 22 underwater signals were proboscis and septum noises. The remaining underwater signals (17) were categorized as voiced calls and further analyzed using two classification methods. Agreement with the initial subjective classification of voiced calls was high (77% for classification tree analysis and 88% for random forest analysis), showing that 12-13 call types separated well. The hooded seal's underwater acoustic repertoire is larger and more diverse than has been previously described. This study provides important baseline information necessary to monitor hooded seals using PAM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Héloïse C Frouin-Mouy
- JASCO Applied Sciences, 2305-4464 Markham Street, Victoria, British Columbia V8Z 7X8, Canada
| | - Mike O Hammill
- Maurice Lamontagne Institute, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 850 Route de la Mer, Mont-Joli, Québec G5H 3Z4, Canada
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6
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Anisakid nematode larvae in the liver of Atlantic cod Gadus morhua L. from West Greenland. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:3233-3241. [PMID: 32656658 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06807-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Anisakid nematode larvae occur frequently in the liver of Atlantic cod, but merely few infection data from cod in waters around Greenland exist. The present study reports the occurrence of third-stage anisakid larvae in the livers of 200 Atlantic cod caught on fishing grounds along the West coast of Greenland (fjord systems of Maniitsoq) in May, June, August and September 2017. Classical and molecular helminthological techniques were used to identify the nematodes. A total of 200 cod livers were examined, and 194 were infected with third-stage nematode larvae (overall prevalence of infection 97%) with a mean intensity of 10.3 (range between 1 and 44 parasites per fish). Prevalences recorded were 96% for Anisakis simplex (s.l.), 55% for Pseudoterranova decipiens (s.l.) and 8% for Contracaecum osculatum (s.l.). Sequencing the mtDNA cox2 from 8 out of 23 these latter larvae conferred these to C. osculatum sp. B. A clear seasonal variation was observed, with a rise in A. simplex (s.l.) and P. decipiens (s.l.) occurrence in June and August and a decline in September. The study may serve as a baseline for future investigations using the three anisakids as biological indicators in Greenland waters.
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Reiling SJ, Measures L, Feng S, Boone R, Merks H, Dixon BR. Toxoplasma gondii, Sarcocystis sp. and Neospora caninum-like parasites in seals from northern and eastern Canada: potential risk to consumers. Food Waterborne Parasitol 2019; 17:e00067. [PMID: 32095635 PMCID: PMC7033983 DOI: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2019.e00067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Revised: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Zoonotic parasites of seals that are harvested for food may pose a health risk when seal meat or organ tissues of infected animals are eaten raw or undercooked. In this study, 124 tissue samples from 81 seals, comprising four species, were collected from northern and eastern Canada. Tissues from 23 ringed seals (Pusa hispida), 8 hooded seals (Cystophora cristata), 21 harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus), and 29 grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) were tested for parasites of the Sarcocystidae family including Toxoplasma gondii, Sarcocystis spp., and Neospora spp. using nested PCR followed by Sanger sequencing. Toxoplasma gondii DNA was present in 26% of ringed seals, 63% of hooded seals, 57% of harp seals, and 31% of grey seals. Sarcocystis sp. DNA was found in 9% of ringed seals, 13% of hooded seals, 14% of harp seals, and 4% of grey seals, while N. caninum-like DNA was present in 26% of ringed seals. While it is unclear how pinnipeds may become infected with these protozoans, horizontal transmission is most likely. However, one harp seal pup (4 days old) was PCR-positive for T. gondii, suggesting vertical transmission may also occur. Phylogenetic analysis of the 18S gene region indicates that Sarcocystis sp. in these seals belongs to a unique genotype. Furthermore, this study represents a new host report for T. gondii in harp seals, a new host and geographic report for N. caninum-like parasites in ringed seals, and four new hosts and geographic reports for Sarcocystis sp. These results demonstrate that parasites of the Sarcocystidae family are prevalent in northern and eastern Canadian seals. While the zoonotic potential of Sarcocystis sp. and the N. caninum-like parasite are unclear, consumption of raw or undercooked seal meat or organ tissues pose a risk of T. gondii infection to consumers. Tissues from ringed, hooded, harp and grey seals in Canada were PCR-positive for Toxoplasma, Sarcocystis and Neospora. Raw or undercooked seal meat may pose a risk for zoonotic transmission of T. gondii to consumers. The risk for zoonotic transmission of Sarcocystis sp. and the Neospora caninum-like parasite is unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J. Reiling
- Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Food Directorate, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Lena Measures
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Maurice Lamontagne Institute, Mont-Joli, QC, G5H 3Z4, Canada
| | - Sandy Feng
- Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Food Directorate, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Ryan Boone
- Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Food Directorate, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Harriet Merks
- Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Food Directorate, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Brent R. Dixon
- Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Food Directorate, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9, Canada
- Corresponding author. Address: 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, A.L. 2204E, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9, Canada.
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8
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Variation in non-metrical skull traits of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) and relationships across East Greenland and adjacent subpopulations (1830–2013). Polar Biol 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-018-2435-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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9
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Vacquie-Garcia J, Lydersen C, Biuw M, Haug T, Fedak MA, Kovacs KM. Hooded seal Cystophora cristata foraging areas in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean-Investigated using three complementary methods. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0187889. [PMID: 29211797 PMCID: PMC5718402 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0187889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2017] [Accepted: 10/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Identifying environmental characteristics that define the ecological niche of a species is essential to understanding how changes in physical conditions might affect its distribution and other aspects of its ecology. The present study used satellite relay data loggers (SRDLs) to study habitat use by Northeast Atlantic hooded seals (N = 20; 9 adult females, 3 adult males, and 8 juveniles). Three different methods were used in combination to achieve maximum insight regarding key foraging areas for hooded seals in this region, which have decline by 85% in recent decades: 1) first passage time (FPT); 2) vertical transit rate and; 3) change in dive drift rate. Generalized additive mixed models (GAMM) were applied to each method to determine whether specific habitat characteristics were associated with foraging. Separate models were run for the post-molting and the post-breeding seasons; sex and age classes were included in the GAMMs. All three methods highlighted a few common geographic areas as being important foraging zones; however, there were also some different areas identified by the different methods, which highlights the importance of using multiple indexes when analyzing tracking and diving data to study foraging behavior. Foraging occurred most commonly in relatively shallow areas with high Sea Surface Temperatures (SST), corresponding to continental shelf areas with Atlantic Water masses. All age and sex classes overlapped spatially to some extent, but the different age and sex groups showed differences in the bathymetry of their foraging areas as well as in their vertical use of the water column. When foraging, pups dove in the upper part of the water column in relatively deep areas. Adult females foraged relatively shallowly in deep water areas too, though in shallower areas than pups. Adult males foraged close to the bottom in shallower areas.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Martin Biuw
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway
- Institute of Marine Research, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Tore Haug
- Institute of Marine Research, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Mike A. Fedak
- Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Kit M. Kovacs
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway
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10
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Emami-Khoyi A, Paterson AM, Hartley DA, Boren LJ, Cruickshank RH, Ross JG, Murphy EC, Else TA. Mitogenomics data reveal effective population size, historical bottlenecks, and the effects of hunting on New Zealand fur seals (Arctocephalus forsteri). Mitochondrial DNA A DNA Mapp Seq Anal 2017; 29:567-580. [PMID: 28539070 DOI: 10.1080/24701394.2017.1325478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri) passed through a population bottleneck due to commercial sealing during the eighteenth to nineteenth centuries. To facilitate future management options, we reconstructed the demographic history of New Zealand fur seals in a Bayesian framework using maternally inherited, mitochondrial DNA sequences. Mitogenomic data suggested two separate clades (most recent common ancestor 5000 years ago) of New Zealand fur seals that survived large-scale human harvest. Mitochondrial haplotype diversity was high, with 45 singletons identified from 46 individuals although mean nucleotide diversity was low (0.012 ± 0.0061). Variation was not constrained geographically. Analyses of mitogenomes support the hypothesis for a population bottleneck approximately 35 generations ago, which coincides with the peak of commercial sealing. Mitogenomic data are consistent with a pre-human effective population size of approximately 30,000 that first declined to around 10,000 (due to the impact of Polynesian colonization, particularly in the first 100 years of their arrival into New Zealand), and then to 100-200 breeding individuals during peak of commercial sealing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arsalan Emami-Khoyi
- a Center for Ecological Genomics and Wildlife Conservation , University of Johannesburg , Auckland Park , South Africa.,b Department of Ecology , Lincoln University , Lincoln , New Zealand
| | - Adrian M Paterson
- b Department of Ecology , Lincoln University , Lincoln , New Zealand
| | | | - Laura J Boren
- d New Zealand Department of Conservation , Wellington-Te Aro , New Zealand
| | | | - James G Ross
- b Department of Ecology , Lincoln University , Lincoln , New Zealand.,e Centre for Wildlife Management and Conservation , Lincoln University , Lincoln , New Zealand
| | - Elaine C Murphy
- b Department of Ecology , Lincoln University , Lincoln , New Zealand.,e Centre for Wildlife Management and Conservation , Lincoln University , Lincoln , New Zealand
| | - Terry-Ann Else
- f Department of Basic Science , Touro University , NV , USA
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11
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Emami-Khoyi A, Hartley DA, Paterson AM, Cruickshank RH, Boren LJ, Ross JG, Murphy EC, Else TA. Mitochondrial DNA structure and colony expansion dynamics of New Zealand fur seals (Arctocephalus forsteri) around Banks Peninsula. NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/03014223.2016.1179649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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12
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Reudink MW, Kyle CJ, McKellar AE, Somers CM, Reudink RLF, Kyser TK, Franks SE, Nocera JJ. Linking Isotopes and Panmixia: High Within-Colony Variation in Feather δ2H, δ13C, and δ15N across the Range of the American White Pelican. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0150810. [PMID: 26974163 PMCID: PMC4790844 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2015] [Accepted: 02/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Complete panmixia across the entire range of a species is a relatively rare phenomenon; however, this pattern may be found in species that have limited philopatry and frequent dispersal. American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhyncos) provide a unique opportunity to examine the role of long-distance dispersal in facilitating gene flow in a species recently reported as panmictic across its broad breeding range. This species is also undergoing a range expansion, with new colonies arising hundreds of kilometers outside previous range boundaries. In this study, we use a multiple stable isotope (δ2H, δ13C, δ15N) approach to examine feather isotopic structuring at 19 pelican colonies across North America, with the goal of establishing an isotopic basemap that could be used for assigning individuals at newly established breeding sites to source colonies. Within-colony isotopic variation was extremely high, exceeding 100‰ in δ2H within some colonies (with relatively high variation also observed for δ13C and δ15N). The high degree of within-site variation greatly limited the utility of assignment-based approaches (42% cross-validation success rate; range: 0–90% success). Furthermore, clustering algorithms identified four likely isotopic clusters; however, those clusters were generally unrelated to geographic location. Taken together, the high degree of within-site isotopic variation and lack of geographically-defined isotopic clusters preclude the establishment of an isotopic basemap for American white pelicans, but may indicate that a high incidence of long-distance dispersal is facilitating gene flow, leading to genetic panmixia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew W. Reudink
- Forensic Science Department, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | - Christopher J. Kyle
- Forensic Science Department, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | - Robyn L. F. Reudink
- British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations, Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada
| | - T. Kurt Kyser
- Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Joseph J. Nocera
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
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13
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Carr SM, Duggan AT, Stenson GB, Marshall HD. Quantitative Phylogenomics of Within-Species Mitogenome Variation: Monte Carlo and Non-Parametric Analysis of Phylogeographic Structure among Discrete Transatlantic Breeding Areas of Harp Seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus). PLoS One 2015; 10:e0134207. [PMID: 26301872 PMCID: PMC4547794 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0134207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2014] [Accepted: 07/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Phylogenomic analysis of highly-resolved intraspecific phylogenies obtained from complete mitochondrial DNA genomes has had great success in clarifying relationships within and among human populations, but has found limited application in other wild species. Analytical challenges include assessment of random versus non-random phylogeographic distributions, and quantification of differences in tree topologies among populations. Harp Seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus Erxleben, 1777) have a biogeographic distribution based on four discrete trans-Atlantic breeding and whelping populations located on "fast ice" attached to land in the White Sea, Greenland Sea, the Labrador ice Front, and Southern Gulf of St Lawrence. This East to West distribution provides a set of a priori phylogeographic hypotheses. Outstanding biogeographic questions include the degree of genetic distinctiveness among these populations, in particular between the Greenland Sea and White Sea grounds. We obtained complete coding-region DNA sequences (15,825 bp) for 53 seals. Each seal has a unique mtDNA genome sequence, which differ by 6 ~ 107 substitutions. Six major clades / groups are detectable by parsimony, neighbor-joining, and Bayesian methods, all of which are found in breeding populations on either side of the Atlantic. The species coalescent is at 180 KYA; the most recent clade, which accounts for 66% of the diversity, reflects an expansion during the mid-Wisconsinan glaciation 40~60 KYA. FST is significant only between the White Sea and Greenland Sea or Ice Front populations. Hierarchal AMOVA of 2-, 3-, or 4-island models identifies small but significant ΦSC among populations within groups, but not among groups. A novel Monte-Carlo simulation indicates that the observed distribution of individuals within breeding populations over the phylogenetic tree requires significantly fewer dispersal events than random expectation, consistent with island or a priori East to West 2- or 3-stepping-stone biogeographic models, but not a simple 1-step trans-Atlantic model. Plots of the cumulative pairwise sequence difference curves among seals in each of the four populations provide continuous proxies for phylogenetic diversification within each. Non-parametric Kolmogorov-Smirnov (K-S) tests of maximum pairwise differences between these curves indicates that the Greenland Sea population has a markedly younger phylogenetic structure than either the White Sea population or the two Northwest Atlantic populations, which are of intermediate age and homogeneous structure. The Monte Carlo and K-S assessments provide sensitive quantitative tests of within-species mitogenomic phylogeography. This is the first study to indicate that the White Sea and Greenland Sea populations have different population genetic histories. The analysis supports the hypothesis that Harp Seals comprises three genetically distinguishable breeding populations, in the White Sea, Greenland Sea, and Northwest Atlantic. Implications for an ice-dependent species during ongoing climate change are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven M. Carr
- Genetics, Evolution, and Molecular Systematics Laboratory, Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, NL A1B 3X9, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | - Ana T. Duggan
- Genetics, Evolution, and Molecular Systematics Laboratory, Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, NL A1B 3X9, Canada
| | - Garry B. Stenson
- Wildlife Genetics and Genomics Laboratory, Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, NL A1B 3X9, Canada
| | - H. Dawn Marshall
- Marine Mammals Section, Science Branch, Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans, PO Box 5667, St. John's, Nfld., A1C 5X1, Canada
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Parasites as biological tags to track an ontogenetic shift in the feeding behaviour of Gadus morhua off West and East Greenland. Parasitol Res 2015; 114:2723-33. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-015-4479-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2015] [Accepted: 04/09/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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15
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Bracken FSA, Hoelzel AR, Hume JB, Lucas MC. Contrasting population genetic structure among freshwater-resident and anadromous lampreys: the role of demographic history, differential dispersal and anthropogenic barriers to movement. Mol Ecol 2015; 24:1188-204. [PMID: 25689694 PMCID: PMC4413359 DOI: 10.1111/mec.13112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2013] [Revised: 02/04/2015] [Accepted: 02/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The tendency of many species to abandon migration remains a poorly understood aspect of evolutionary biology that may play an important role in promoting species radiation by both allopatric and sympatric mechanisms. Anadromy inherently offers an opportunity for the colonization of freshwater environments, and the shift from an anadromous to a wholly freshwater life history has occurred in many families of fishes. Freshwater-resident forms have arisen repeatedly among lampreys (within the Petromyzontidae and Mordaciidae), and there has been much debate as to whether anadromous lampreys, and their derived freshwater-resident analogues, constitute distinct species or are divergent ecotypes of polymorphic species. Samples of 543 European river lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis (mostly from anadromous populations) and freshwater European brook lamprey Lampetra planeri from across 18 sites, primarily in the British Isles, were investigated for 13 polymorphic microsatellite DNA loci, and 108 samples from six of these sites were sequenced for 829 bp of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). We found contrasting patterns of population structure for mtDNA and microsatellite DNA markers, such that low diversity and little structure were seen for all populations for mtDNA (consistent with a recent founder expansion event), while fine-scale structuring was evident for nuclear markers. Strong differentiation for microsatellite DNA loci was seen among freshwater-resident L. planeri populations and between L. fluviatilis and L. planeri in most cases, but little structure was evident among anadromous L. fluviatilis populations. We conclude that postglacial colonization founded multiple freshwater-resident populations with strong habitat fidelity and limited dispersal tendencies that became highly differentiated, a pattern that was likely intensified by anthropogenic barriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona S A Bracken
- School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
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16
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Klimova A, Phillips CD, Fietz K, Olsen MT, Harwood J, Amos W, Hoffman JI. Global population structure and demographic history of the grey seal. Mol Ecol 2014; 23:3999-4017. [PMID: 25041117 DOI: 10.1111/mec.12850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2014] [Revised: 06/04/2014] [Accepted: 06/25/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Although the grey seal Halichoerus grypus is one of the most familiar and intensively studied of all pinniped species, its global population structure remains to be elucidated. Little is also known about how the species as a whole may have historically responded to climate-driven changes in habitat availability and anthropogenic exploitation. We therefore analysed samples from over 1500 individuals collected from 22 colonies spanning the Western and Eastern Atlantic and the Baltic Sea regions, represented by 350 bp of the mitochondrial hypervariable region and up to nine microsatellites. Strong population structure was observed at both types of marker, and highly asymmetrical patterns of gene flow were also inferred, with the Orkney Islands being identified as a source of emigrants to other areas in the Eastern Atlantic. The Baltic and Eastern Atlantic regions were estimated to have diverged a little over 10 000 years ago, consistent with the last proposed isolation of the Baltic Sea. Approximate Bayesian computation also identified genetic signals consistent with postglacial population expansion across much of the species range, suggesting that grey seals are highly responsive to changes in habitat availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Klimova
- Department of Animal Behaviour, University of Bielefeld, Postfach 100131, 33501, Bielefeld, Germany
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17
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Olsen MT, Andersen LW, Dietz R, Teilmann J, Härkönen T, Siegismund HR. Integrating genetic data and population viability analyses for the identification of harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) populations and management units. Mol Ecol 2014; 23:815-31. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.12644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2012] [Revised: 12/11/2013] [Accepted: 12/13/2013] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Morten T. Olsen
- Department of Bioscience; Aarhus University; Frederiksborgvej 399 Roskilde DK-4000 Denmark
- Department of Biology; University of Copenhagen; Ole Maaløes Vej 5 Copenhagen N DK-2200 Denmark
- Centre for Geogenetics; Natural History Museum of Denmark; University of Copenhagen; Øster Voldgade 5-7 Copenhagen K 1350 Denmark
| | | | - Rune Dietz
- Department of Bioscience; Aarhus University; Frederiksborgvej 399 Roskilde DK-4000 Denmark
| | - Jonas Teilmann
- Department of Bioscience; Aarhus University; Frederiksborgvej 399 Roskilde DK-4000 Denmark
| | - Tero Härkönen
- Swedish Museum of Natural History; Box 50007 Stockholm S-10405 Sweden
| | - Hans R. Siegismund
- Department of Biology; University of Copenhagen; Ole Maaløes Vej 5 Copenhagen N DK-2200 Denmark
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Nymo IH, Tryland M, Frie AK, Haug T, Foster G, Rødven R, Godfroid J. Age-dependent prevalence of anti-Brucella antibodies in hooded seals Cystophora cristata. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2013; 106:187-196. [PMID: 24191996 DOI: 10.3354/dao02659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Investigations of hooded seals Cystophora cristata have revealed high prevalences of Brucella-positive seals in the reduced Northeast Atlantic stock, compared to the increasing Northwest Atlantic stock. This study evaluated the relation between Brucella-serostatus in seals in the Northeast Atlantic stock and age, sex, body condition and reproduction. Bacteriology documented which animals and organs were B. pinnipedialis positive. No relationship was observed between Brucella-serostatus and body condition or reproductive traits. Pups (<1 mo old) had a substantially lower probability of being seropositive (4/159, 2.5%) than yearlings (6/17, 35.3%), suggesting that exposure may occur post-weaning, during the first year of life. For seals >1 yr old, the mean probability of being seropositive decreased with age, with no seropositives older than 5 yr, indicating loss of antibody titre with either chronicity or clearance of infection. The latter explanation seems to be most likely as B. pinnipedialis has never been isolated from a hooded seal >18 mo old, which is consistent with findings in this study; B. pinnipedialis was isolated from the retropharyngeal lymph node in 1 seropositive yearling (1/21, 5%). We hypothesize that this serological and bacteriological pattern is due to environmental exposure to B. pinnipedialis early in life, with a subsequent clearance of infection. This raises the question of a reservoir of B. pinnipedialis in the hooded seal food web.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingebjørg H Nymo
- Section of Arctic Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Stakkevollveien 23, 9010 Tromsø, Norway
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19
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McKinney MA, Iverson SJ, Fisk AT, Sonne C, Rigét FF, Letcher RJ, Arts MT, Born EW, Rosing-Asvid A, Dietz R. Global change effects on the long-term feeding ecology and contaminant exposures of East Greenland polar bears. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2013; 19:2360-72. [PMID: 23640921 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.12241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2013] [Accepted: 03/31/2013] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Rapid climate changes are occurring in the Arctic, with substantial repercussions for arctic ecosystems. It is challenging to assess ecosystem changes in remote polar environments, but one successful approach has entailed monitoring the diets of upper trophic level consumers. Quantitative fatty acid signature analysis (QFASA) and fatty acid carbon isotope (δ(13) C-FA) patterns were used to assess diets of East Greenland (EG) polar bears (Ursus maritimus) (n = 310) over the past three decades. QFASA-generated diet estimates indicated that, on average, EG bears mainly consumed arctic ringed seals (47.5 ± 2.1%), migratory subarctic harp (30.6 ± 1.5%) and hooded (16.7 ± 1.3%) seals and rarely, if ever, consumed bearded seals, narwhals or walruses. Ringed seal consumption declined by 14%/decade over 28 years (90.1 ± 2.5% in 1984 to 33.9 ± 11.1% in 2011). Hooded seal consumption increased by 9.5%/decade (0.0 ± 0.0% in 1984 to 25.9 ± 9.1% in 2011). This increase may include harp seal, since hooded and harp seal FA signatures were not as well differentiated relative to other prey species. Declining δ(13) C-FA ratios supported shifts from more nearshore/benthic/ice-associated prey to more offshore/pelagic/open-water-associated prey, consistent with diet estimates. Increased hooded seal and decreased ringed seal consumption occurred during years when the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) was lower. Thus, periods with warmer temperatures and less sea ice were associated with more subarctic and less arctic seal species consumption. These changes in the relative abundance, accessibility, or distribution of arctic and subarctic marine mammals may have health consequences for EG polar bears. For example, the diet change resulted in consistently slower temporal declines in adipose levels of legacy persistent organic pollutants, as the subarctic seals have higher contaminant burdens than arctic seals. Overall, considerable changes are occurring in the EG marine ecosystem, with consequences for contaminant dynamics.
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20
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Berry O, Spiller LC, Campbell R, Hitchen Y, Kennington WJ. Population recovery of the New Zealand fur seal in southern Australia: a molecular DNA analysis. J Mammal 2012. [DOI: 10.1644/11-mamm-a-206.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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21
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Frie AK, Stenson GB, Haug T. Long-term trends in reproductive and demographic parameters of female Northwest Atlantic hooded seals (Cystophora cristata): population responses to ecosystem change? CAN J ZOOL 2012. [DOI: 10.1139/z11-140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
More than 2500 ovaries were collected from Northwest Atlantic hooded seals ( Cystophora cristata (Erxleben, 1777)) in the period 1956–2006 during moulting (data blocks: 1956–1960, 1970–1972, 1978), postmoulting (data blocks: 1990–1994, 1996–2006), and whelping (data blocks: 1967–1972, 1973–1976, 1979, 1983–1987, 1989–1995). Mean age at primiparity (MAP) was estimated as the mean age of females with a single corpus albicans or a corpus luteum from a postimplantation pregnancy. MAP was stable at 4.2–4.5 years during 1956–1978, increasing to 4.9–5.2 years in 1979 and to 6.1 years in 1989–1995 (later data insufficient). Patterns of corpus accumulation indicated occasional skipped pregnancies. This may have affected the accuracy of MAP estimates but not the main trends. Declining proportions of parae younger than 10 years after 1979 are consistent with effects of delayed maturation, reduced adult hunting mortality, and (or) increased juvenile mortality. From the 1990s, declining adult pregnancy rates are suggested by decreasing trends in proportions of older multiparae (8+) and other ovary-based proxies for pregnancy rates. Hooded seal abundance was largely stable from 1960 to the mid-1990s and changes in population parameters over this period are therefore more likely due to effects of ecosystem change on per-capita resource levels than population-mediated density dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Garry B. Stenson
- Science Branch, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre, St. John’s, NL A1C 5X1, Canada
| | - Tore Haug
- Institute of Marine Research, P.O. Box 6404, NO-9294 Tromsø, Norway
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22
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Oomen RA, Reudink MW, Nocera JJ, Somers CM, Green MC, Kyle CJ. Mitochondrial evidence for panmixia despite perceived barriers to gene flow in a widely distributed waterbird. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 102:584-92. [PMID: 21705489 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esr055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
We examined the mitochondrial genetic structure of American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) to: 1) verify or refute whether American white pelicans are panmictic and 2) understand if any lack of genetic structure is the result of contemporary processes or historical phenomena. Sequence analysis of mitochondrial DNA control region haplotypes of 367 individuals from 19 colonies located across their North American range revealed a lack of population genetic or phylogeographic structure. This lack of structure was unexpected because: 1) Major geographic barriers such as the North American Continental Divide are thought to limit dispersal; 2) Differences in migratory behavior are expected to promote population differentiation; and 3) Many widespread North American migratory bird species show historic patterns of differentiation resulting from having inhabited multiple glacial refugia. Further, high haplotype diversity and many rare haplotypes are maintained across the species' distribution, despite frequent local extinctions and recolonizations that are expected to decrease diversity. Our findings suggest that American white pelicans have a high effective population size and low natal philopatry. We suggest that the rangewide panmixia we observed in American white pelicans is due to high historical and contemporary gene flow, enabled by high mobility and a lack of effective physical or behavioral barriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekah A Oomen
- Forensic Science Department, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.
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REUDINK MATTHEWW, KYLE CHRISTOPHERJ, NOCERA JOSEPHJ, OOMEN REBEKAHA, GREEN MCLAY, SOMERS CHRISTOPHERM. Panmixia on a continental scale in a widely distributed colonial waterbird. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2011. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2010.01608.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Schultz JK, Baker JD, Toonen RJ, Harting AL, Bowen BW. Range-wide genetic connectivity of the Hawaiian monk seal and implications for translocation. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2011; 25:124-132. [PMID: 21166713 DOI: 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2010.01615.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi) is one of the most critically endangered marine mammals. Less than 1200 individuals remain, and the species is declining at a rate of approximately 4% per year as a result of juvenile starvation, shark predation, and entanglement in marine debris. Some of these problems may be alleviated by translocation; however, if island breeding aggregates are effectively isolated subpopulations, moving individuals may disrupt local adaptations. In these circumstances, managers must balance the pragmatic need of increasing survival with theoretical concerns about genetic viability. To assess range-wide population structure of the Hawaiian monk seal, we examined an unprecedented, near-complete genetic inventory of the species (n =1897 seals, sampled over 14 years) at 18 microsatellite loci. Genetic variation was not spatially partitioned ((w) =-0.03, p = 1.0), and a Bayesian clustering method provided evidence of one panmictic population (K =1). Pairwise F(ST) comparisons (among 7 island aggregates over 14 annual cohorts) did not reveal temporally stable, spatial reproductive isolation. Our results coupled with long-term tag-resight data confirm seal movement and gene flow throughout the Hawaiian Archipelago. Thus, human-mediated translocation of seals among locations is not likely to result in genetic incompatibilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer K Schultz
- Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawaii, Kaneohe, HI 96744, U.S.A.
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25
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Dickerson BR, Ream RR, Vignieri SN, Bentzen P. Population structure as revealed by mtDNA and microsatellites in northern fur seals, Callorhinus ursinus, throughout their range. PLoS One 2010; 5:e10671. [PMID: 20498854 PMCID: PMC2871788 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0010671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2009] [Accepted: 04/07/2010] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus; NFS) is a widely distributed pinniped that has been shown to exhibit a high degree of philopatry to islands, breeding areas on an island, and even to specific segments of breeding areas. This level of philopatry could conceivably lead to highly genetically divergent populations. However, northern fur seals have the potential for dispersal across large distances and have experienced repeated rapid population expansions following glacial retreat and the more recent cessation of intensive harvest pressure. Methodology/Principal Findings Using microsatellite and mitochondrial loci, we examined population structure in NFS throughout their range. We found only weak population genetic structure among breeding islands including significant FST and ΦST values between eastern and western Pacific islands. Conclusions We conclude that insufficient time since rapid population expansion events (both post glacial and following the cessation of intense harvest pressure) mixed with low levels of contemporary migration have resulted in an absence of genetic structure across the entire northern fur seal range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bobette R Dickerson
- National Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, Seattle, Washington, United States of America.
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26
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HUNTER MARGARETKELLOGG, BRODERICK DAMIEN, OVENDEN JENNIFERR, TUCKER KIMBERLYPAUSE, BONDE ROBERTK, MCGUIRE PETERM, LANYON JANETM. Characterization of highly informative cross‐species microsatellite panels for the Australian dugong (
Dugong dugon
) and Florida manatee (
Trichechus manatus latirostris
) including five novel primers. Mol Ecol Resour 2010; 10:368-77. [PMID: 21565032 DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2009.02761.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- MARGARET KELLOGG HUNTER
- Sirenia Project, Florida Integrated Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, 2201 NW 40th Terrace, Gainesville, FL 32605, USA
- Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Box 100245 UFHSC, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - DAMIEN BRODERICK
- Molecular Fisheries Laboratory, Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Level 3 Ritchie Building, Research Lane, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia
| | - JENNIFER R. OVENDEN
- Molecular Fisheries Laboratory, Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Level 3 Ritchie Building, Research Lane, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia
| | - KIMBERLY PAUSE TUCKER
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, 140 7th Ave S. MSL 119, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA
| | - ROBERT K. BONDE
- Sirenia Project, Florida Integrated Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, 2201 NW 40th Terrace, Gainesville, FL 32605, USA
- Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Box 100245 UFHSC, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - PETER M. MCGUIRE
- Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Box 100245 UFHSC, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - JANET M. LANYON
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia
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Lancaster ML, Arnould JPY, Kirkwood R. Genetic status of an endemic marine mammal, the Australian fur seal, following historical harvesting. Anim Conserv 2009. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-1795.2009.00325.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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HOFFMAN JI, DASMAHAPATRA KK, AMOS W, PHILLIPS CD, GELATT TS, BICKHAM JW. Contrasting patterns of genetic diversity at three different genetic markers in a marine mammal metapopulation. Mol Ecol 2009; 18:2961-78. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2009.04246.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Herreman JK, Blundell GM, McDonald DB, Ben-David M. Asymmetrical male-mediated gene flow between harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) populations in Alaska. CAN J ZOOL 2009. [DOI: 10.1139/z09-033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Harbor seals ( Phoca vitulina richardii (Gray, 1864)) in Alaska are currently treated as three distinct management stocks. Previous genetic analyses using mitochondrial DNA suggested that these stocks are differentiated genetically. We studied populations in Glacier Bay (GB; Southeast Alaska Stock), where harbor seals are declining, and Prince William Sound (PWS; Gulf of Alaska Stock), where the population has recently stabilized. Using six pairs of hypervariable microsatellite primers, we determined that these populations are a single panmictic unit with estimated migration rates of 22 animals/generation (PWS to GB) and 63 animals/generation (GB to PWS). The asymmetrical gene flow between GB and PWS is likely driven in part by a recent increase in competitors and predators of seals in GB. In contrast with males, emigration of females from PWS to GB (8.3 seals/generation) is higher than emigration of females from GB to PWS (3.3 seals/generation), likely because females use glacial ice as pupping habitat. Despite the high gene flow, the number of migrants per year (0.02% of the Gulf of Alaska population) is likely too low to influence the demographics of harbor seals in PWS, and the two populations may best be managed as separate stocks.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. K. Herreman
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, 1000 East University Avenue, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Wildlife Conservation, P.O. Box 110024, Juneau, AK 99811-0024, USA
| | - G. M. Blundell
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, 1000 East University Avenue, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Wildlife Conservation, P.O. Box 110024, Juneau, AK 99811-0024, USA
| | - D. B. McDonald
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, 1000 East University Avenue, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Wildlife Conservation, P.O. Box 110024, Juneau, AK 99811-0024, USA
| | - M. Ben-David
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, 1000 East University Avenue, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Wildlife Conservation, P.O. Box 110024, Juneau, AK 99811-0024, USA
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Aowphol A, Voris HK, Feldheim KA, Harnyuttanakorn P, Thirakhupt K. Genetic homogeneity among colonies of the white-nest swiftlet (Aerodramus fuciphagus) in Thailand. Zoolog Sci 2008; 25:372-80. [PMID: 18459819 DOI: 10.2108/zsj.25.372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2007] [Accepted: 01/10/2008] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The white-nest swiftlet, Aerodramus fuciphagus, originally lived in large colonies in natural caves, but now it also occurs in man-made buildings. We investigated the patterns of genetic differentiation in two mitochondrial DNA genes (cyt-b and ND2) and eight microsatellite loci among and within colonies of A. fuciphagus from across recently established man-made colonies in Thailand. Ten white-nest swiftlet colonies were sampled along the coast of the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea in Thailand during 2003-2006. The genetic diversity of mtDNA was very low, and few significant PhiST values were found between pairs of colonies. Analyses of haplotype relationships did not show genetic structure across the sampled distribution. The level of genetic diversity for microsatellite loci was high, but FST values were not significant. However, due to small sample sizes for some colonies that could limit conclusions on genetic differentiation from PhiST and FST, we also analyzed the microsatellite data using STRUCTURE and found that number of subpopulations of white-nest swiftlets in sampled colonies was one. The lack of genetic differentiation among swiftlet house colonies could be a result of high gene flow between colonies and large population sizes. Our results suggest that A. fuciphagus living in recently established man-made colonies in Thailand should be considered members of a single panmictic population. Future work will be necessary to determine whether this panmixia is stable or a temporary result of the recent explosive expansion of the number of colonies, and comparisons to natural colonies may provide an understanding of mechanisms producing the lack of genetic structure in swiftlet house colonies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anchalee Aowphol
- Biological Sciences Program, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
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Abstract
The development of population genetic structure in ice-breeding seal species is likely to be shaped by a combination of breeding habitat and life-history characteristics. Species that return to breed on predictable fast-ice locations are more likely to exhibit natal fidelity than pack-ice-breeding species, which in turn facilitates the development of genetic differentiation between subpopulations. Other aspects of life history such as geographically distinct vocalizations, female gregariousness, and the potential for polygynous breeding may also facilitate population structure. Based on these factors, we predicted that fast-ice-breeding seal species (the Weddell and ringed seal) would show elevated genetic differentiation compared to pack-ice-breeding species (the leopard, Ross, crabeater and bearded seals). We tested this prediction using microsatellite analysis to examine population structure of these six ice-breeding species. Our results did not support this prediction. While none of the Antarctic pack-ice species showed statistically significant population structure, the bearded seal of the Arctic pack ice showed strong differentiation between subpopulations. Again in contrast, the fast-ice-breeding Weddell seal of the Antarctic showed clear evidence for genetic differentiation while the ringed seal, breeding in similar habitat in the Arctic, did not. These results suggest that the development of population structure in ice-breeding phocid seals is a more complex outcome of the interplay of phylogenetic and ecological factors than can be predicted on the basis of breeding substrate and life-history characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corey S Davis
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G2E9, Canada
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32
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Estimation of hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) pup production in the Greenland Sea pack ice during the 2005 whelping season. Polar Biol 2008. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-008-0425-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Kovacs KM, Lydersen C. Climate change impacts on seals and whales in the North Atlantic Arctic and adjacent shelf seas. Sci Prog 2008; 91:117-50. [PMID: 18717366 PMCID: PMC10367525 DOI: 10.3184/003685008x324010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
In a warmer Arctic, endemic marine mammal species will face extreme levels of habitat change, most notably a dramatic reduction in sea ice. Additionally, the physical environmental changes, including less ice and increased water (and air) temperatures will result in alterations to the forage base of arctic marine mammals, including density and distributional shifts in their prey, as well as potential losses of some of their traditionally favoured fat-rich prey species. In addition they are likely to face increased competition from invasive temperate species, increased predation from species formerly unable to access them in areas of extensive sea ice or simply because the water temperature was restrictive, increased disease risk and perhaps also increased risks from contaminants. Over the coming decades it is also likely that arctic marine mammals will face increased impacts from human traffic and development in previously inaccessible, ice-covered areas. Impacts on ice-associated cetaceans are difficult to predict because the reasons for their affiliation with sea ice are not clearly understood. But, it is certain that ice-breeding seals will have marked, or total, breeding-habitat loss in their traditional breeding areas and will certainly undergo distributional changes and in all probability abundance reductions. If species are fixed in traditional spatial and temporal cycles, and are unable to shift them within decadal time scales, some populations will go extinct. In somewhat longer time frames, species extinctions can also be envisaged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kit M. Kovacs
- Biodiversity Research Group of the Norwegian Polar Institute, 9696, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Christian Lydersen
- University Studies on Svalbard (UNIS), Longyearbyen, 9171 Svalbard, Norway
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Animal Welfare aspects of the killing and skinning of seals - Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Animal Health and Welfare. EFSA J 2007. [DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2007.610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
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