Climate change introduces threatened killer whale populations and conservation challenges to the Arctic
The Arctic is the fastest-warming region on the planet, and the lengthening ice-free season is opening Arctic waters to sub-Arctic species such as the killer whale (Orcinus orca). As apex predators, killer whales can cause significant ecosystem-scale changes. Setting conservation priorities for kill...
Published in: | Global Change Biology |
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2024
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Online Access: | https://pure.au.dk/portal/en/publications/76678474-2f6c-4be2-b914-7d8534e16029 https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.17352 http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85195016114&partnerID=8YFLogxK |
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ftuniaarhuspubl:oai:pure.atira.dk:publications/76678474-2f6c-4be2-b914-7d8534e16029 2024-09-09T19:15:52+00:00 Climate change introduces threatened killer whale populations and conservation challenges to the Arctic Garroway, Colin J. de Greef, Evelien Lefort, Kyle J. Thorstensen, Matt J. Foote, Andrew D. Matthews, Cory J.D. Higdon, Jeff W. Kucheravy, Caila E. Petersen, Stephen D. Rosing-Asvid, Aqqalu Ugarte, Fernando Dietz, Rune Ferguson, Steven H. 2024-06 https://pure.au.dk/portal/en/publications/76678474-2f6c-4be2-b914-7d8534e16029 https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.17352 http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85195016114&partnerID=8YFLogxK eng eng https://pure.au.dk/portal/en/publications/76678474-2f6c-4be2-b914-7d8534e16029 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Garroway , C J , de Greef , E , Lefort , K J , Thorstensen , M J , Foote , A D , Matthews , C J D , Higdon , J W , Kucheravy , C E , Petersen , S D , Rosing-Asvid , A , Ugarte , F , Dietz , R & Ferguson , S H 2024 , ' Climate change introduces threatened killer whale populations and conservation challenges to the Arctic ' , Global change biology , vol. 30 , no. 6 , e17352 . https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.17352 Arctic conservation effective population size genetic differentiation genomics marine mammal article 2024 ftuniaarhuspubl https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.17352 2024-06-18T14:33:40Z The Arctic is the fastest-warming region on the planet, and the lengthening ice-free season is opening Arctic waters to sub-Arctic species such as the killer whale (Orcinus orca). As apex predators, killer whales can cause significant ecosystem-scale changes. Setting conservation priorities for killer whales and their Arctic prey species requires knowledge of their evolutionary history and demographic trajectory. Using whole-genome resequencing of 24 killer whales sampled in the northwest Atlantic, we first explored the population structure and demographic history of Arctic killer whales. To better understand the broader geographic relationship of these Arctic killer whales to other populations, we compared them to a globally sampled dataset. Finally, we assessed threats to Arctic killer whales due to anthropogenic harvest by reviewing the peer-reviewed and gray literature. We found that there are two highly genetically distinct, non-interbreeding populations of killer whales using the eastern Canadian Arctic. These populations appear to be as genetically different from each other as are ecotypes described elsewhere in the killer whale range; however, our data cannot speak to ecological differences between these populations. One population is newly identified as globally genetically distinct, and the second is genetically similar to individuals sampled from Greenland. The effective sizes of both populations recently declined, and both appear vulnerable to inbreeding and reduced adaptive potential. Our survey of human-caused mortalities suggests that harvest poses an ongoing threat to both populations. The dynamic Arctic environment complicates conservation and management efforts, with killer whales adding top-down pressure on Arctic food webs crucial to northern communities' social and economic well-being. While killer whales represent a conservation priority, they also complicate decisions surrounding wildlife conservation and resource management in the Arctic amid the effects of climate change. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Arctic Climate change Greenland Killer Whale Northwest Atlantic Orca Orcinus orca Killer whale Aarhus University: Research Arctic Greenland Global Change Biology 30 6 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Aarhus University: Research |
op_collection_id |
ftuniaarhuspubl |
language |
English |
topic |
Arctic conservation effective population size genetic differentiation genomics marine mammal |
spellingShingle |
Arctic conservation effective population size genetic differentiation genomics marine mammal Garroway, Colin J. de Greef, Evelien Lefort, Kyle J. Thorstensen, Matt J. Foote, Andrew D. Matthews, Cory J.D. Higdon, Jeff W. Kucheravy, Caila E. Petersen, Stephen D. Rosing-Asvid, Aqqalu Ugarte, Fernando Dietz, Rune Ferguson, Steven H. Climate change introduces threatened killer whale populations and conservation challenges to the Arctic |
topic_facet |
Arctic conservation effective population size genetic differentiation genomics marine mammal |
description |
The Arctic is the fastest-warming region on the planet, and the lengthening ice-free season is opening Arctic waters to sub-Arctic species such as the killer whale (Orcinus orca). As apex predators, killer whales can cause significant ecosystem-scale changes. Setting conservation priorities for killer whales and their Arctic prey species requires knowledge of their evolutionary history and demographic trajectory. Using whole-genome resequencing of 24 killer whales sampled in the northwest Atlantic, we first explored the population structure and demographic history of Arctic killer whales. To better understand the broader geographic relationship of these Arctic killer whales to other populations, we compared them to a globally sampled dataset. Finally, we assessed threats to Arctic killer whales due to anthropogenic harvest by reviewing the peer-reviewed and gray literature. We found that there are two highly genetically distinct, non-interbreeding populations of killer whales using the eastern Canadian Arctic. These populations appear to be as genetically different from each other as are ecotypes described elsewhere in the killer whale range; however, our data cannot speak to ecological differences between these populations. One population is newly identified as globally genetically distinct, and the second is genetically similar to individuals sampled from Greenland. The effective sizes of both populations recently declined, and both appear vulnerable to inbreeding and reduced adaptive potential. Our survey of human-caused mortalities suggests that harvest poses an ongoing threat to both populations. The dynamic Arctic environment complicates conservation and management efforts, with killer whales adding top-down pressure on Arctic food webs crucial to northern communities' social and economic well-being. While killer whales represent a conservation priority, they also complicate decisions surrounding wildlife conservation and resource management in the Arctic amid the effects of climate change. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Garroway, Colin J. de Greef, Evelien Lefort, Kyle J. Thorstensen, Matt J. Foote, Andrew D. Matthews, Cory J.D. Higdon, Jeff W. Kucheravy, Caila E. Petersen, Stephen D. Rosing-Asvid, Aqqalu Ugarte, Fernando Dietz, Rune Ferguson, Steven H. |
author_facet |
Garroway, Colin J. de Greef, Evelien Lefort, Kyle J. Thorstensen, Matt J. Foote, Andrew D. Matthews, Cory J.D. Higdon, Jeff W. Kucheravy, Caila E. Petersen, Stephen D. Rosing-Asvid, Aqqalu Ugarte, Fernando Dietz, Rune Ferguson, Steven H. |
author_sort |
Garroway, Colin J. |
title |
Climate change introduces threatened killer whale populations and conservation challenges to the Arctic |
title_short |
Climate change introduces threatened killer whale populations and conservation challenges to the Arctic |
title_full |
Climate change introduces threatened killer whale populations and conservation challenges to the Arctic |
title_fullStr |
Climate change introduces threatened killer whale populations and conservation challenges to the Arctic |
title_full_unstemmed |
Climate change introduces threatened killer whale populations and conservation challenges to the Arctic |
title_sort |
climate change introduces threatened killer whale populations and conservation challenges to the arctic |
publishDate |
2024 |
url |
https://pure.au.dk/portal/en/publications/76678474-2f6c-4be2-b914-7d8534e16029 https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.17352 http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85195016114&partnerID=8YFLogxK |
geographic |
Arctic Greenland |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Greenland |
genre |
Arctic Arctic Climate change Greenland Killer Whale Northwest Atlantic Orca Orcinus orca Killer whale |
genre_facet |
Arctic Arctic Climate change Greenland Killer Whale Northwest Atlantic Orca Orcinus orca Killer whale |
op_source |
Garroway , C J , de Greef , E , Lefort , K J , Thorstensen , M J , Foote , A D , Matthews , C J D , Higdon , J W , Kucheravy , C E , Petersen , S D , Rosing-Asvid , A , Ugarte , F , Dietz , R & Ferguson , S H 2024 , ' Climate change introduces threatened killer whale populations and conservation challenges to the Arctic ' , Global change biology , vol. 30 , no. 6 , e17352 . https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.17352 |
op_relation |
https://pure.au.dk/portal/en/publications/76678474-2f6c-4be2-b914-7d8534e16029 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.17352 |
container_title |
Global Change Biology |
container_volume |
30 |
container_issue |
6 |
_version_ |
1809755987772440576 |