Circumpolar Diversity and Geographic Differentiation of mtDNA in the Critically Endangered Antarctic Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus intermedia)

Sremba, Angela L.; Hancock‐Hanser, Brittany L.; Branch, Trevor A.; LeDuc, Rick L.; Baker, C. Scott

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0032579

Cited by 44 publications

(66 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…A standard DNA profile, including molecular sex, amplification and sequencing of 410 bp of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region, and microsatellite genotyping of up to 15 loci, was generated for all samples following methods described by Sremba et al (2012). An additional 2 microsatellite loci, DlrFCB17 and GATA98, were genotyped following methods described by LeDuc et al (2007).…”

Section: Geneticsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Control region sequences were visualized and manually reviewed using the program Sequencher v4.6 (Gene Codes Corporation). Individual haplotypes were aligned with previously published blue whale haplotypes , Sremba et al 2012, TorresFlorez et al 2014, Attard et al 2015 downloaded from GenBank. Microsatellite alleles were analyzed using Genemapper v4.0 (Applied Biosystems), and peaks were visually inspected.…”

Section: Geneticsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Documentation of a New Zealand blue whale population based on multiple lines of evidence

Barlow¹,

Torres²,

Hodge³

et al. 2018

Endang. Species. Res.

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Species conservation depends on robust population assessment. Data on population abundance, distribution, and connectivity are critical for effective management, especially as baseline information for newly documented populations. We describe a pygmy blue whale Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda population in New Zealand waters with year-round presence that overlaps with industrial activities. This population was investigated using a multidisciplinary approach, including analysis of survey data, sighting records, acoustic data, identification photographs, and genetic samples. Blue whales were reported during every month of the year in the New Zealand Exclusive Economic Zone, with reports concentrated in the South Taranaki Bight (STB) region, where foraging behavior was frequently observed. Five hydrophones in the STB recorded the New Zealand blue whale call type on 99.7% of recording days (January to December 2016). A total of 151 individuals were photo-identified between 2004 and 2017. Nine individuals were resighted across multiple years. No matches were made to individuals identified in Australian or Antarctic waters. Mitochondrial DNA haplotype frequencies differed significantly between New Zealand (n = 53 individuals) and all other Southern Hemisphere blue whale populations, and haplotype diversity was significantly lower than all other populations. These results suggest a high degree of isolation of this New Zealand population. Using a closed capturerecapture population model, our conservative abundance estimate of blue whales in New Zealand is 718 (SD = 433, 95% CI = 279−1926). Our results fill critical knowledge gaps to improve management of blue whale populations in New Zealand and surrounding regions.

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Section: Geneticsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Geneticsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Documentation of a New Zealand blue whale population based on multiple lines of evidence

Barlow¹,

Torres²,

Hodge³

et al. 2018

Endang. Species. Res.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…For these species, high harvests combined with slow reproductive rates due to their long life span resulted in narrow population bottlenecks, which has likely hindered their ability to recover as fast as some of the other species. For blue whales, we estimated narrow population bottlenecks of around 100 mature female whales in both areas between the 1950s and 60s, which is backed up by other studies (Sremba et al 2012). This may be preventing faster recovery due to a loss of genetic variation and diversity (Baker & Clapham 2004;Waldick et al 2002).…”

Section: The Impacts Of Historical Whalingsupporting

confidence: 61%

“…This may be preventing faster recovery due to a loss of genetic variation and diversity (Baker & Clapham 2004;Waldick et al 2002). Despite this, research suggests haplotype diversity remains relatively high, perhaps as a result of the longevity of blue whales and the timing of the bottleneck, which may be helping the population slowly rebound from the massive depletion by whaling (Sremba et al 2012). We note our blue whale estimates are for the subspecies B. m. intermedia, and exclude the subspecies pygmy blue whales (B. m. brevicauda), which are currently depleted but not as severely as the true Antarctic blue whale (Masaki 1979).…”

Section: The Impacts Of Historical Whalingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Managing direct and indirect threats to marine ecosystems to balance multiple objectives

Tulloch¹

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Human activities affecting the environment are intensifying. In marine ecosystems, direct stressors of overfishing and habitat destruction have led to biodiversity declines, prompting calls for conservation action and more sustainable resource management. Managing stressors becomes more challenging when stressors interact, or are indirect, whereby the source of the threatening activity is displaced from impacts, such as the localised effects of global warming, or runoff from land-use change degrading coral reefs. Effective management requires improved understanding of ecosystem responses to multiple stressors and consideration of interactions between stressors and species.Opposing objectives and outcomes of marine conservation (i.e. reducing stressors) versus resource management (often increasing stressors) compromise effective decision-making. Approaches are needed that include ecological and socio-economic information to promote long-term sustainability of extractive uses, protect functioning ecosystems, and conserve biodiversity. The choice of tool used to inform ecosystem management is typically constrained by management goals and available resources -spatial planning is typically used for conservation, whereas resource management relies more on population modelling.The goal of this thesis is to harness spatial and population modelling techniques to combine resource management with biodiversity conservation and link direct and indirect stressors to marine biodiversity persistence. Chapter 1 provides the context for the thesis, where I explore these themes and outline differences in decision-making for conservation versus extraction. In Chapter 2, I explore how agencies have managed stressors to date, and show that a decision-theoretic approach known as "structured decision-making" (SDM) is a more logical and effective way of managing stressors than traditional approaches that map threats. SDM requires clear objectives, canvassing of alternative management options, and linking outcomes for biodiversity to the effectiveness of each management option. SDM ensures that conservation actions occur where they are the most cost-efficient or effective. I apply recommendations from Chapter 2 in two case studies for managing multiple stressors to marine ecosystems: 1) spatial planning for oil palm agriculture and coral reef fisheries in Papua New Guinea (Chapters 3 and 4), and 2) managing whale species affected by harvesting, climate change and krill population dynamics in the Southern Hemisphere (Chapters 5 and 6).In Chapter 3 I combine ecosystem models and threat maps with spatial conservation planning to predict responses of coral and seagrass ecosystems to changing land uses. My novel framework identifies high priority areas for marine reserves whilst accounting for indirect impacts of land use change such as oil palm development and uncertainty in future stressor intensities. I demonstrate ii how we can reduce adverse impacts of oil palm expansion and make more effective whole-ofsystem decisions for coasta...

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“…In the Northern Hemisphere, there is one subspecies (B. m. musculus), and in the Southern Hemisphere, there are two subspecies: the pygmy blue whale (B. m. brevicauda), which feeds in temperate waters, and the Antarctic blue whale (B. m. intermedia), which feeds in Antarctic waters. The lowest recorded genetic diversity in populations of blue whales is found in pygmy blue whales that feed off Australia [4][5][6][7] (table 1). Traditional genetic analyses have indicated that Australian pygmy blue whales have undergone a genetic bottleneck at an unknown time [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low genetic diversity in pygmy blue whales is due to climate-induced diversification rather than anthropogenic impacts

et al. 2015

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Unusually low genetic diversity can be a warning of an urgent need to mitigate causative anthropogenic activities. However, current low levels of genetic diversity in a population could also be due to natural historical events, including recent evolutionary divergence, or long-term persistence at a small population size. Here, we determine whether the relatively low genetic diversity of pygmy blue whales ( Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda ) in Australia is due to natural causes or overexploitation. We apply recently developed analytical approaches in the largest genetic dataset ever compiled to study blue whales (297 samples collected after whaling and representing lineages from Australia, Antarctica and Chile). We find that low levels of genetic diversity in Australia are due to a natural founder event from Antarctic blue whales ( Balaenoptera musculus intermedia ) that occurred around the Last Glacial Maximum, followed by evolutionary divergence. Historical climate change has therefore driven the evolution of blue whales into genetically, phenotypically and behaviourally distinct lineages that will likely be influenced by future climate change.

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Circumpolar Diversity and Geographic Differentiation of mtDNA in the Critically Endangered Antarctic Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus intermedia)

Cited by 44 publications

References 51 publications

Documentation of a New Zealand blue whale population based on multiple lines of evidence

Documentation of a New Zealand blue whale population based on multiple lines of evidence

Managing direct and indirect threats to marine ecosystems to balance multiple objectives

Low genetic diversity in pygmy blue whales is due to climate-induced diversification rather than anthropogenic impacts

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