Low world-wide genetic diversity in the killer whale (Orcinus orca)

A low level of genetic variation in mammalian populations where the census population size is relatively large has been attributed to various factors, such as a naturally small effective population size, historical bottlenecks and social behaviour. The killer whale (Orcinus orca) is an abundant, hig...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences
Main Authors: Hoelzel, A. R., Natoli, A., Dahlheim, M., Olavarria, C., Baird, R. W., Black, N.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:unknown
Published: Royal Society 2002
Subjects:
Population
Bottleneck
Genetics
Marine mammals
Killer Whale
Orca
Orcinus orca
Killer whale
Online Access:http://dro.dur.ac.uk/3624/
https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2002.2033
Description
Summary:A low level of genetic variation in mammalian populations where the census population size is relatively large has been attributed to various factors, such as a naturally small effective population size, historical bottlenecks and social behaviour. The killer whale (Orcinus orca) is an abundant, highly social species with reduced genetic variation. We find no consistent geographical pattern of global diversity and no mtDNA variation within some regional populations. The regional lack of variation is likely to be due to the strict matrilineal expansion of local populations. The worldwide pattern and paucity of diversity may indicate a historical bottleneck as an additional factor.

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