Genetic structure of sperm whale populations assessed by mitochondrial DNA sequence variation.

Working from DNA extracted from skin naturally sloughed by free-living sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus), I amplified and sequenced the mitochondrial control region to investigate (1) the evolution of this molecule; (2) the social organization of groups of female and immature sperm whales; and (...

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Main Author: Dillon, Mary Catherine.
Other Authors: Ph.D.
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: Dalhousie University 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10222/55135
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spelling ftdalhouse:oai:DalSpace.library.dal.ca:10222/55135 2023-05-15T17:59:27+02:00 Genetic structure of sperm whale populations assessed by mitochondrial DNA sequence variation. Dillon, Mary Catherine. Ph.D. 2014-10-21T12:37:58Z http://hdl.handle.net/10222/55135 eng eng Dalhousie University AAINN15916 http://hdl.handle.net/10222/55135 Biology Genetics Oceanography Zoology text 2014 ftdalhouse 2022-04-02T23:10:37Z Working from DNA extracted from skin naturally sloughed by free-living sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus), I amplified and sequenced the mitochondrial control region to investigate (1) the evolution of this molecule; (2) the social organization of groups of female and immature sperm whales; and (3) the population structure of sperm whales within and among three major ocean basins. First, the DNA sequence of the control region of sperm whales was compared to that of other cetaceans. The control region was reported previously to contain sequence blocks that were highly conserved among cetaceans, and assumed to have critical functions. Comparison of the sperm whale sequence, however, demonstrated that many of the sequence blocks that had been observed to be well conserved, were very different in sperm whales, calling into question the importance of these sequence blocks in at least some cetaceans. Second, organization of three social groups of female and immature sperm whales was examined using sequences from the most variable part of the control region. Analysis of resulting haplotypes revealed that group members were related, and that the groups had a matrilineal structure. A comparison of mitochondrial data to nuclear data from the same individuals indicated that some group members may be paternally related. Finally, examination of mitochondrial haplotypes in the Pacific (N = 140), Atlantic (N = 23) and the Indian (N = 19) oceans also showed the relatedness of members of social groups. However, little genetic structure above the level of groups was evident. Almost none of the total genetic variation observed was due to differences between 3 widely-separated areas in the S. Pacific, nor to differences in the three major ocean basins. This study also revealed a lack of genetic variation in sperm whales world wide. Thesis (Ph.D.)--Dalhousie University (Canada), 1996. Text Physeter macrocephalus Sperm whale Dalhousie University: DalSpace Institutional Repository Canada Indian Pacific
institution Open Polar
collection Dalhousie University: DalSpace Institutional Repository
op_collection_id ftdalhouse
language English
topic Biology
Genetics
Oceanography
Zoology
spellingShingle Biology
Genetics
Oceanography
Zoology
Dillon, Mary Catherine.
Genetic structure of sperm whale populations assessed by mitochondrial DNA sequence variation.
topic_facet Biology
Genetics
Oceanography
Zoology
description Working from DNA extracted from skin naturally sloughed by free-living sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus), I amplified and sequenced the mitochondrial control region to investigate (1) the evolution of this molecule; (2) the social organization of groups of female and immature sperm whales; and (3) the population structure of sperm whales within and among three major ocean basins. First, the DNA sequence of the control region of sperm whales was compared to that of other cetaceans. The control region was reported previously to contain sequence blocks that were highly conserved among cetaceans, and assumed to have critical functions. Comparison of the sperm whale sequence, however, demonstrated that many of the sequence blocks that had been observed to be well conserved, were very different in sperm whales, calling into question the importance of these sequence blocks in at least some cetaceans. Second, organization of three social groups of female and immature sperm whales was examined using sequences from the most variable part of the control region. Analysis of resulting haplotypes revealed that group members were related, and that the groups had a matrilineal structure. A comparison of mitochondrial data to nuclear data from the same individuals indicated that some group members may be paternally related. Finally, examination of mitochondrial haplotypes in the Pacific (N = 140), Atlantic (N = 23) and the Indian (N = 19) oceans also showed the relatedness of members of social groups. However, little genetic structure above the level of groups was evident. Almost none of the total genetic variation observed was due to differences between 3 widely-separated areas in the S. Pacific, nor to differences in the three major ocean basins. This study also revealed a lack of genetic variation in sperm whales world wide. Thesis (Ph.D.)--Dalhousie University (Canada), 1996.
author2 Ph.D.
format Text
author Dillon, Mary Catherine.
author_facet Dillon, Mary Catherine.
author_sort Dillon, Mary Catherine.
title Genetic structure of sperm whale populations assessed by mitochondrial DNA sequence variation.
title_short Genetic structure of sperm whale populations assessed by mitochondrial DNA sequence variation.
title_full Genetic structure of sperm whale populations assessed by mitochondrial DNA sequence variation.
title_fullStr Genetic structure of sperm whale populations assessed by mitochondrial DNA sequence variation.
title_full_unstemmed Genetic structure of sperm whale populations assessed by mitochondrial DNA sequence variation.
title_sort genetic structure of sperm whale populations assessed by mitochondrial dna sequence variation.
publisher Dalhousie University
publishDate 2014
url http://hdl.handle.net/10222/55135
geographic Canada
Indian
Pacific
geographic_facet Canada
Indian
Pacific
genre Physeter macrocephalus
Sperm whale
genre_facet Physeter macrocephalus
Sperm whale
op_relation AAINN15916
http://hdl.handle.net/10222/55135
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