Population structure in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) of British Columbia and widespread hybridization in cetaceans ...

• Main Author: Crossman, Carla Anne
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: University of British Columbia 2012
• Subjects: Canada; British Columbia; Phocoena phocoena
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0073454; https://doi.library.ubc.ca/10.14288/1.0073454

Harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) are one of the most abundant small cetaceans in the world and, while they are extensively studied across most of their range, little is known about their biology in British Columbia, Canada. Recent management plans have identified a need to better understand the population structure of harbour porpoises in this region. I investigated the genetic population structure of harbour porpoises in British Columbia using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and eight microsatellite loci. My findings are consistent with a single population of harbour porpoises inhabiting the coastline between Haida G’waii and the southern Juan de Fuca Strait. I also confirmed that hybridization between harbour porpoises and Dall’s porpoises (Phocoenoides dalli) has occurred over a larger geographic region than previously known and I present evidence that the resultant hybrids are reproductively viable and have the potential to successfully backcross with both parental species. Building on these findings, I ...