Genetic isolation of a now extinct population of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

• Published in: Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
• Main Authors: Nichols, C., Herman, J., Gaggiotti, O. E., Dobney, K. M., Parsons, K., Hoelzel, A. R.
• Other Authors: School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, Department of Natural Sciences, National Museums of Scotland, Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine (LECA), Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB Université de Savoie Université de Chambéry )-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Department of Archaeology, Lighthouse Field Station, University of Aberdeen
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2007
• Subjects: ancient DNA; marine mammal; population genetics; metapopulation; Gulf-of-mexico; microsatellite loci; mitochondrial; conservation; cetaceans; envir; archeo; North Atlantic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2007.0176; https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/halsde-00283752

International audience A number of dolphin species, though highly mobile, show genetic structure among parapatric and sometimes sympatric populations. However, little is known about the temporal patterns of population structure for these species. Here, we apply Bayesian inference and data from ancient DNA to assess the structure and dynamics of bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) populations in the coastal waters of the UK. We show that regional population structure in UK waters is consistent with earlier studies suggesting local habitat dependence for this species in the Mediterranean Sea and North Atlantic. One genetically differentiated UK population went extinct at least 100 years ago and has not been replaced. The data indicate that this was a local extinction, and not a case of historical range shift or contraction. One possible interpretation is a declining metapopulation and conservation need for this species in the UK.