Population genetic diversity and historical dynamics of Fraser’s dolphins Lagenodelphis hosei

Chen, I.; Nishida, S.; Chou, LS.; Isobe, T.; Mignucci-Giannoni, A.A.; Hoelzel, A.R.

Abstract

Marine organisms face relatively few barriers to gene flow, and yet even highly mobile species such as dolphins often show population structure over regional geographic scales. Understanding the processes that promote this pattern of differentiation helps us understand the evolutionary radiation of this group, and to promote more effective measures for conservation. In this study we provide the first population genetic study of Fraser’s dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei Fraser, 1956), a species that was not recognized by the scientific communities until the early 1970s. We use 18 microsatellite DNA loci and one mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) locus to compare 112 Fraser’s dolphins collected in various locations, mainly from the waters off Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines, but also including samples from the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. Our results indicate differentiation between populations in waters off Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines and support the findings from earlier morphological assessments for differentiation between Japanese and Philippine waters. Small sample sets also show likely differentiation between other regions in the North Pacific and North Atlantic Oceans. Moreover, the neutrality tests and mismatch analysis based on mtDNA data indicate that the populations in the western North Pacific Ocean have expanded demographically and spatially, possibly since the latest global deglaciation when sea levels and global temperatures started to rise.

Citation

Chen, I., Nishida, S., Chou, L., Isobe, T., Mignucci-Giannoni, A., & Hoelzel, A. (2020). Population genetic diversity and historical dynamics of Fraser’s dolphins Lagenodelphis hosei. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 643, 183-195. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13268

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 18, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Jun 11, 2020
• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2020
• Deposit Date: Apr 5, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 11, 2021
• Journal: Marine Ecology Progress Series
• Print ISSN: 0171-8630
• Electronic ISSN: 1616-1599
• Publisher: Inter Research
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 643
• Pages: 183-195
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13268
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1273801