Population structure of melon‐headed whales (<i>Peponocephala electra</i>) in the Hawaiian Archipelago: Evidence of multiple populations based on photo identification

Aschettino, Jessica M; Baird, Robin W.; McSweeney, Daniel J.; Webster, Daniel L.; Schorr, Gregory S.; Huggins, Jessica L.; Martien, Karen K.; Mahaffy, Sabre D.; West, Kristi L.

doi:10.1111/j.1748-7692.2011.00517.x

Cited by 44 publications

(60 citation statements)

References 28 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…We stratified samples geographically and further stratified the Hawaiian samples into the 2 populations identified by Aschettino et al (2012; Fig. 1).…”

Section: Sample Setmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, observational, photo-identification, and anecdotal evidence suggests the presence of island-associated populations of MHWs around Palmyra Atoll and the Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia (Brownell et al 2009b), the Hawaiian Archipelago (Aschettino et al 2012), and around Mayotte in the Mozambique Channel (Kiszka et al 2011). The best-studied populations are those around the main Hawaiian Islands.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, much of what we do know about MHWs suggests that they might also form strongly differentiated regional populations (Brownell et al 2009b, Aschettino et al 2012. They are globally distributed in oceanic habitats of tropical and subtropical waters, particularly in continental and insular slope waters between 20°S and 20°N (Perryman 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although the ranges of these populations partially overlap, individuals from the 2 populations have never been observed together despite photo-identification records dating back more than 2 decades. A Bayesian analysis of the sighting records for these 2 populations showed that the dispersal rate between them is low enough to render them demographically independent (Aschettino et al 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The best-studied populations are those around the main Hawaiian Islands. Aschettino et al (2012) used social network analysis of photo-identification data to identify and describe the ranges of 2 populations. The larger of these, referred to as the Hawaiian Islands (HI) population, has an estimated abundance of 5794 individuals (CV = 0.20;Aschettino 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Unexpected patterns of global population structure in melon-headed whales Peponocephala electra

Martien¹,

Hancock‐Hanser²,

Baird³

et al. 2017

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Foraging specialization, environmental barriers, and social structure have driven the development of strong genetic differentiation within many marine species, including most of the large dolphin species commonly referred to as 'blackfish' (subfamily Globicephalinae). We used mitochondrial sequence data (mtDNA) and genotypes from 14 nuclear microsatellite loci (nDNA) to examine patterns of genetic population structure in melon-headed whales Peponocephala electra (MHWs), poorly known members of the blackfish family for which genetic structuring is unknown. MHWs are globally distributed in tropical and subtropical waters, and have formed resident populations around oceanic islands. They frequently mass strand, suggesting strong social cohesion within groups. Based on these characteristics, we hypothesized that MHWs would exhibit strong regional genetic differentiation, similar to that observed in other members of the Globicephalinae subfamily. Instead we found only moderate differentiation (median mtDNA Φ ST = 0.204, median nDNA F ST = 0.012) among populations both within and between ocean basins. Our results suggest that populations of MHWs that are resident to oceanic islands maintain a higher level of genetic connectivity than is seen in most other blackfish. MHWs may be more behaviorally similar to delphinids from the Delphininae subfamily (particularly the spinner dolphin Stenella longirostris), which are known to form coastal and island-associated resident populations that maintain genetic connectivity either through occasional long-distance dispersal or gene flow with larger pelagic populations. Our results suggest that differences in social organization may drive different patterns of population structure in social odontocetes.

show abstract

“…We stratified samples geographically and further stratified the Hawaiian samples into the 2 populations identified by Aschettino et al (2012; Fig. 1).…”

Section: Sample Setmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Unexpected patterns of global population structure in melon-headed whales Peponocephala electra

Martien¹,

Hancock‐Hanser²,

Baird³

et al. 2017

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Population structure of short‐finned pilot whales in the oceanic archipelago of Madeira based on photo‐identification and genetic analyses: implications for conservation

Alves

Quérouil

Dinis

et al. 2013

Aquatic Conservation

118

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

1. Pilot whales Globicephala spp. are known to display a hierarchical social pattern, but longitudinal data to infer population structure of short-finned pilot whales Globicephala macrorhynchus are rare.2. Using data collected between 2003-2011 in the oceanic archipelago of Madeira, the grouping structure of short-finned pilot whales was studied using photo-identification methods and mtDNA sequences and microsatellite markers to test the hypotheses that (1) there is at least one pelagic and one or more island-associated communities, and (2) groups are made of related individuals, with a matrilineal social structure.3. Pilot whales demonstrated a large degree of variability in site fidelity, including residents (up to 14-year interval), regular visitors and transients. The social and temporal analyses revealed a well-differentiated society with long-lasting relationships (of years). The genetic analyses suggested that individuals of the three residency patterns may not be genetically isolated, and that small groups are made up of related individuals, suggesting some degree of social philopatry, while large groups are probably temporary associations of smaller groups.4. It is proposed that the pilot whales encountered in Madeira belong to a single population encompassing several clans, possibly three clans of island-associated whales and others of transients, each containing two to three matrilineal pods, each with a mean of 15 individuals (SD=9,. We suggest that the clans interact for mating purposes when they meet.5. For management decisions, it is considered that the island-associated whales should not be regarded as demographically independent populations, but instead as stable social entities to be included in governmental management plans and requiring periodic evaluation of their status. The high proportion of marked individuals and low rate of mark change encourages further research in this species.

show abstract

Rare and Vagrant Cetacean Species in Europe

Weir¹

2020

Handbook of the Mammals of Europe

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Population structure of melon‐headed whales (Peponocephala electra) in the Hawaiian Archipelago: Evidence of multiple populations based on photo identification

Cited by 44 publications

References 28 publications

Unexpected patterns of global population structure in melon-headed whales Peponocephala electra

Unexpected patterns of global population structure in melon-headed whales Peponocephala electra

Population structure of short‐finned pilot whales in the oceanic archipelago of Madeira based on photo‐identification and genetic analyses: implications for conservation

Rare and Vagrant Cetacean Species in Europe

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About