Sperm whale population structure in the eastern and central North Pacific inferred by the use of single-nucleotide polymorphisms, microsatellites and mitochondrial DNA

We use mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) (400 bp), 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...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Molecular Ecology Resources
Main Authors: Mesnick, Sarah L., Taylor, Barbara L., Archer, Frederick I., Martien, Karen K., Trevino, Sergio Escorza, 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: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2011
Subjects:
conservation
Physeter macrocephalus
population structure
single-nucleotide polymorphism
sperm whale
PHYSETER-MACROCEPHALUS
GENETIC DIFFERENTIATION
SOCIAL-ORGANIZATION
MAXIMUM-LIKELIHOOD
GENOTYPING ERRORS
STATISTICAL POWER
F-STATISTICS
VOCAL CLANS
G(ST)
SNPS
Arctic
Pacific
Sperm whale
Alaska
Online Access:https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/publications/7d7047b7-df9d-41ce-95c8-66f6646484a8
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1755-0998.2010.02973.x
Description
Summary:We use mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) (400 bp), 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 because of both historical and contemporary impacts. We estimate genetic differentiation among three strata in the temperate to tropical waters where females are found: California Current, Hawaigravei 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 Hawaigravei 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.

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