Genetic history and stock identity of beluga whales in Kotzebue Sound
We investigate the recent history and stock identity of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Kotzebue Sound in the Chukchi Sea, a region long frequented by large numbers of belugas in summer until their near disappearance in the 1980s. Wide variation in numbers since then suggests a complex rece...
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Norwegian Polar Institute
2021
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.33265/polar.v40.7623 https://doaj.org/article/536fd98f3a9c4f88b243662121ae4915 |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:536fd98f3a9c4f88b243662121ae4915 2023-05-15T15:00:27+02:00 Genetic history and stock identity of beluga whales in Kotzebue Sound Gregory O’Corry-Crowe Tatiana Ferrer John J. Citta Robert Suydam Lori Quakenbush John J. Burns Jorge Monroy Alex Whiting Glenn Seaman Willie Goodwin, Sr. Matthias Meyer Sarah Rodgers Kathryn J. Frost 2021-11-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.33265/polar.v40.7623 https://doaj.org/article/536fd98f3a9c4f88b243662121ae4915 EN eng Norwegian Polar Institute https://polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/7623/14109 https://doaj.org/toc/0800-0395 https://doaj.org/toc/1751-8369 0800-0395 1751-8369 doi:10.33265/polar.v40.7623 https://doaj.org/article/536fd98f3a9c4f88b243662121ae4915 Polar Research, Vol 40, Pp 1-17 (2021) population decline ancient dna delphinapterus leucas indigenous knowledge iñupiat migratory culture Environmental sciences GE1-350 Oceanography GC1-1581 article 2021 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.33265/polar.v40.7623 2022-12-31T09:42:59Z We investigate the recent history and stock identity of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Kotzebue Sound in the Chukchi Sea, a region long frequented by large numbers of belugas in summer until their near disappearance in the 1980s. Wide variation in numbers since then suggests a complex recent history that hinders recovery efforts. Analysis of teeth sampled during the historical (pre-decline) era using ancient DNA (aDNA) methods found that the original Kotzebue Sound whales were differentiated for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from other summering concentrations across the Pacific Arctic revealing a demographically distinct subpopulation where long-established migratory culture likely facilitated population divergence. Analysis of microsatellite (nDNA) and mtDNA markers in belugas from the contemporary (post-decline) era revealed that whales from other stocks likely visited Kotzebue Sound, including during two low ice years when relatively large numbers of whales were present. Some mtDNA lineages were found only in Kotzebue Sound, with one recorded in both the historical and contemporary eras. Exclusion tests found a number of whales in Kotzebue Sound during the contemporary era that had nDNA genotypes unlikely to arise in other contemporary stocks in the Pacific Arctic. Our findings indicate that the Kotzebue Sound belugas comprised a unique stock of which a few remnants likely still co-occur with belugas from other larger stocks. We recommend that the US government work through the co-management process to greatly reduce or eliminate the taking of belugas, especially adult females, likely to belong to the Kotzebue Sound stock, until they recover. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Beluga Beluga* Chukchi Chukchi Sea Delphinapterus leucas Pacific Arctic Polar Research Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Chukchi Sea Pacific Polar Research 40 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
population decline ancient dna delphinapterus leucas indigenous knowledge iñupiat migratory culture Environmental sciences GE1-350 Oceanography GC1-1581 |
spellingShingle |
population decline ancient dna delphinapterus leucas indigenous knowledge iñupiat migratory culture Environmental sciences GE1-350 Oceanography GC1-1581 Gregory O’Corry-Crowe Tatiana Ferrer John J. Citta Robert Suydam Lori Quakenbush John J. Burns Jorge Monroy Alex Whiting Glenn Seaman Willie Goodwin, Sr. Matthias Meyer Sarah Rodgers Kathryn J. Frost Genetic history and stock identity of beluga whales in Kotzebue Sound |
topic_facet |
population decline ancient dna delphinapterus leucas indigenous knowledge iñupiat migratory culture Environmental sciences GE1-350 Oceanography GC1-1581 |
description |
We investigate the recent history and stock identity of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Kotzebue Sound in the Chukchi Sea, a region long frequented by large numbers of belugas in summer until their near disappearance in the 1980s. Wide variation in numbers since then suggests a complex recent history that hinders recovery efforts. Analysis of teeth sampled during the historical (pre-decline) era using ancient DNA (aDNA) methods found that the original Kotzebue Sound whales were differentiated for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from other summering concentrations across the Pacific Arctic revealing a demographically distinct subpopulation where long-established migratory culture likely facilitated population divergence. Analysis of microsatellite (nDNA) and mtDNA markers in belugas from the contemporary (post-decline) era revealed that whales from other stocks likely visited Kotzebue Sound, including during two low ice years when relatively large numbers of whales were present. Some mtDNA lineages were found only in Kotzebue Sound, with one recorded in both the historical and contemporary eras. Exclusion tests found a number of whales in Kotzebue Sound during the contemporary era that had nDNA genotypes unlikely to arise in other contemporary stocks in the Pacific Arctic. Our findings indicate that the Kotzebue Sound belugas comprised a unique stock of which a few remnants likely still co-occur with belugas from other larger stocks. We recommend that the US government work through the co-management process to greatly reduce or eliminate the taking of belugas, especially adult females, likely to belong to the Kotzebue Sound stock, until they recover. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Gregory O’Corry-Crowe Tatiana Ferrer John J. Citta Robert Suydam Lori Quakenbush John J. Burns Jorge Monroy Alex Whiting Glenn Seaman Willie Goodwin, Sr. Matthias Meyer Sarah Rodgers Kathryn J. Frost |
author_facet |
Gregory O’Corry-Crowe Tatiana Ferrer John J. Citta Robert Suydam Lori Quakenbush John J. Burns Jorge Monroy Alex Whiting Glenn Seaman Willie Goodwin, Sr. Matthias Meyer Sarah Rodgers Kathryn J. Frost |
author_sort |
Gregory O’Corry-Crowe |
title |
Genetic history and stock identity of beluga whales in Kotzebue Sound |
title_short |
Genetic history and stock identity of beluga whales in Kotzebue Sound |
title_full |
Genetic history and stock identity of beluga whales in Kotzebue Sound |
title_fullStr |
Genetic history and stock identity of beluga whales in Kotzebue Sound |
title_full_unstemmed |
Genetic history and stock identity of beluga whales in Kotzebue Sound |
title_sort |
genetic history and stock identity of beluga whales in kotzebue sound |
publisher |
Norwegian Polar Institute |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.33265/polar.v40.7623 https://doaj.org/article/536fd98f3a9c4f88b243662121ae4915 |
geographic |
Arctic Chukchi Sea Pacific |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Chukchi Sea Pacific |
genre |
Arctic Beluga Beluga* Chukchi Chukchi Sea Delphinapterus leucas Pacific Arctic Polar Research |
genre_facet |
Arctic Beluga Beluga* Chukchi Chukchi Sea Delphinapterus leucas Pacific Arctic Polar Research |
op_source |
Polar Research, Vol 40, Pp 1-17 (2021) |
op_relation |
https://polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/7623/14109 https://doaj.org/toc/0800-0395 https://doaj.org/toc/1751-8369 0800-0395 1751-8369 doi:10.33265/polar.v40.7623 https://doaj.org/article/536fd98f3a9c4f88b243662121ae4915 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.33265/polar.v40.7623 |
container_title |
Polar Research |
container_volume |
40 |
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1766332555038031872 |