Effects of inbreeding on reproductive success in endangered North Atlantic right whales
Only approximately 356 North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) remain. With extremely low levels of genetic diversity, limited options for mates, and variation in reproductive success across females, there is concern regarding the potential for genetic limitations of population growth from...
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2024
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.240490 https://doaj.org/article/a21aefbf3a5e414385dc4e227e85da17 |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:a21aefbf3a5e414385dc4e227e85da17 2024-09-15T18:05:10+00:00 Effects of inbreeding on reproductive success in endangered North Atlantic right whales Carla A. Crossman Philip K. Hamilton Moira W. Brown Lisa A. Conger R. Clay George Katharine A. Jackson Sonya N. Radvan Timothy R. Frasier 2024-07-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.240490 https://doaj.org/article/a21aefbf3a5e414385dc4e227e85da17 EN eng The Royal Society https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.240490 https://doaj.org/toc/2054-5703 doi:10.1098/rsos.240490 2054-5703 https://doaj.org/article/a21aefbf3a5e414385dc4e227e85da17 Royal Society Open Science, Vol 11, Iss 7 (2024) ddRAD sequencing North Atlantic right whale inbreeding depression inbreeding conservation heterozygosity-fitness correlations Science Q article 2024 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.240490 2024-08-05T17:48:48Z Only approximately 356 North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) remain. With extremely low levels of genetic diversity, limited options for mates, and variation in reproductive success across females, there is concern regarding the potential for genetic limitations of population growth from inbreeding depression. In this study, we quantified reproductive success of female North Atlantic right whales with a modified de-lifing approach using reproductive history information collected over decades of field observations. We used double-digest restriction site-associated sequencing to sequence approximately 2% of the genome of 105 female North Atlantic right whales and combined genomic inbreeding estimates with individual fecundity values to assess evidence of inbreeding depression. Inbreeding depression could not explain the variance in reproductive success of females, however we present evidence that inbreeding depression may be affecting the viability of inbred fetuses—potentially lowering the reproductive success of the species as a whole. Combined, these results allay some concerns that genetic factors are impacting species survival as genetic diversity is being retained through selection against inbred fetuses. While still far fewer calves are being born each year than expected, the small role of genetics underlying variance in female fecundity suggests that variance may be explained by external factors that can potentially be mitigated through protection measures designed to reduce serious injury and mortality from human activities. Article in Journal/Newspaper Eubalaena glacialis North Atlantic North Atlantic right whale Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Royal Society Open Science 11 7 |
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Open Polar |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
ddRAD sequencing North Atlantic right whale inbreeding depression inbreeding conservation heterozygosity-fitness correlations Science Q |
spellingShingle |
ddRAD sequencing North Atlantic right whale inbreeding depression inbreeding conservation heterozygosity-fitness correlations Science Q Carla A. Crossman Philip K. Hamilton Moira W. Brown Lisa A. Conger R. Clay George Katharine A. Jackson Sonya N. Radvan Timothy R. Frasier Effects of inbreeding on reproductive success in endangered North Atlantic right whales |
topic_facet |
ddRAD sequencing North Atlantic right whale inbreeding depression inbreeding conservation heterozygosity-fitness correlations Science Q |
description |
Only approximately 356 North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) remain. With extremely low levels of genetic diversity, limited options for mates, and variation in reproductive success across females, there is concern regarding the potential for genetic limitations of population growth from inbreeding depression. In this study, we quantified reproductive success of female North Atlantic right whales with a modified de-lifing approach using reproductive history information collected over decades of field observations. We used double-digest restriction site-associated sequencing to sequence approximately 2% of the genome of 105 female North Atlantic right whales and combined genomic inbreeding estimates with individual fecundity values to assess evidence of inbreeding depression. Inbreeding depression could not explain the variance in reproductive success of females, however we present evidence that inbreeding depression may be affecting the viability of inbred fetuses—potentially lowering the reproductive success of the species as a whole. Combined, these results allay some concerns that genetic factors are impacting species survival as genetic diversity is being retained through selection against inbred fetuses. While still far fewer calves are being born each year than expected, the small role of genetics underlying variance in female fecundity suggests that variance may be explained by external factors that can potentially be mitigated through protection measures designed to reduce serious injury and mortality from human activities. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Carla A. Crossman Philip K. Hamilton Moira W. Brown Lisa A. Conger R. Clay George Katharine A. Jackson Sonya N. Radvan Timothy R. Frasier |
author_facet |
Carla A. Crossman Philip K. Hamilton Moira W. Brown Lisa A. Conger R. Clay George Katharine A. Jackson Sonya N. Radvan Timothy R. Frasier |
author_sort |
Carla A. Crossman |
title |
Effects of inbreeding on reproductive success in endangered North Atlantic right whales |
title_short |
Effects of inbreeding on reproductive success in endangered North Atlantic right whales |
title_full |
Effects of inbreeding on reproductive success in endangered North Atlantic right whales |
title_fullStr |
Effects of inbreeding on reproductive success in endangered North Atlantic right whales |
title_full_unstemmed |
Effects of inbreeding on reproductive success in endangered North Atlantic right whales |
title_sort |
effects of inbreeding on reproductive success in endangered north atlantic right whales |
publisher |
The Royal Society |
publishDate |
2024 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.240490 https://doaj.org/article/a21aefbf3a5e414385dc4e227e85da17 |
genre |
Eubalaena glacialis North Atlantic North Atlantic right whale |
genre_facet |
Eubalaena glacialis North Atlantic North Atlantic right whale |
op_source |
Royal Society Open Science, Vol 11, Iss 7 (2024) |
op_relation |
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.240490 https://doaj.org/toc/2054-5703 doi:10.1098/rsos.240490 2054-5703 https://doaj.org/article/a21aefbf3a5e414385dc4e227e85da17 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.240490 |
container_title |
Royal Society Open Science |
container_volume |
11 |
container_issue |
7 |
_version_ |
1810442746058506240 |