Data from: Sperm whale population structure in the eastern and central North Pacific inferred by the use of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), microsatellites and mitochondrial DNA

• Main Authors: Mesnick, Sarah L., Taylor, Barbara L., Archer, Frederick I, Martien, Karen K, Escorza Treviño, Sergio, Hancock-Hanser, Brittany L., Moreno Medina, Sandra Carolina, Pease, Victoria L, Robertson, Kelly M, Straley, Janice M, Baird, Robin W, Calambokidis, John, Schorr, Gregory S., Wade, Paul, Burkanov, Vladimir, Lunsford, Chris R., Rendell, Luke, Morin, Phillip A
• Format: Dataset
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2020
• Subjects: Life sciences; medicine and health care; microsatellites; conservation; population structure; single nucleotide polymorphism; mitochondrial DNA control region; Holocene; sperm whale; Physeter macrocephalus; eastern North Pacific; central North Pacific; envir; geo; Arctic; Pacific; Sperm whale; Alaska
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.7983

We use mitochondrial DNA (400bp), six microsatellites and 36 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), 20 of which were linked, to investigate population structure of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) in the eastern and central North Pacific. SNP markers, reproducible across technologies and laboratories, are ideal for long-term studies of globally distributed species such as sperm whales, a species of conservation concern due to both historical and contemporary impacts. We estimate genetic differentiation among three strata in the temperate to tropical waters where females are found: California Current, Hawai‛i and the eastern tropical Pacific. We then consider how males on sub-Arctic foraging grounds assign to these strata. The California Current stratum was differentiated from both the other strata (p<0.05) for mtDNA, microsatellites and SNPs, suggesting that the region supports a demographically independent population and providing the first indication that males may exhibit reproductive philopatry. Comparisons between the Hawai‛i stratum and the eastern tropical Pacific stratum are not conclusive at this time. Comparisons with Alaska males were statistically significant or nearly so from all three strata and individuals showed mixed assignment to, and few exclusions from, the three potential source strata, suggesting widespread origin of males on sub-Arctic feeding grounds. We show that SNPs have sufficient power to detect population structure even when genetic differentiation is low. There is a need for better analytical methods for SNPs, especially when linked SNPs are used, but SNPs appear to be a valuable marker for long-term studies of globally dispersed and highly mobile species. Mesnick et al_Physeter genotypes_17 Nov 2010_n=287.xlsThe sample set consisted of 287 North Pacific sperm whale samples for which six hypervariable microsatellite loci and 36 SNP loci have been genotyped. Samples obtained between 1972 and 2007. Samples were collected from solitary or groups of free-ranging sperm whales ...