Publications des scientifiques de l'IRD

Albertson G. R., Friedlaender A. S., Steel D. J., Aguayo-Lobo A., Bonatto S. L., Caballero S., Constantine R., Cypriano-Souza A. L., Engel M. H., Garrigue Claire, Florez-Gonzalez L., Johnston D. W., Nowacek D. P., Olavarria C., Poole M. M., Read A. J., Robbins J., Sremba A. L., Baker C. S. (2018). Temporal stability and mixed-stock analyses of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the nearshore waters of the Western Antarctic Peninsula. Polar Biology, 41 (2), p. 323-340. ISSN 0722-4060.

Titre du document
Temporal stability and mixed-stock analyses of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the nearshore waters of the Western Antarctic Peninsula
Année de publication
2018
Type de document
Article référencé dans le Web of Science WOS:000424276400011
Auteurs
Albertson G. R., Friedlaender A. S., Steel D. J., Aguayo-Lobo A., Bonatto S. L., Caballero S., Constantine R., Cypriano-Souza A. L., Engel M. H., Garrigue Claire, Florez-Gonzalez L., Johnston D. W., Nowacek D. P., Olavarria C., Poole M. M., Read A. J., Robbins J., Sremba A. L., Baker C. S.
Source
Polar Biology, 2018, 41 (2), p. 323-340 ISSN 0722-4060
Southern Hemisphere humpback whales breed in tropical waters and migrate to Antarctica to forage. While the breeding grounds are well defined, the population structure on Antarctic feeding grounds is poorly described. The Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) is of particular interest, where rapidly changing environmental conditions could alter prey distribution or migration pathways. To examine changes in the population of whales around the WAP, we used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and 15 microsatellite loci. We compared our WAP dataset to a dataset collected 18 years earlier, and identified new haplotypes for the region, but found no significant difference between the datasets. We compared whales from the WAP to breeding populations in Oceania, Colombia, and Brazil. We used an Analysis of Molecular Variance to confirm significant genetic differentiation between the WAP and each breeding ground (overall F (ST) = 0.035/0.007 mtDNA/microsatellite, p < 0.001) except Colombia. Bayesian mixed-stock analyses showed a large apportionment to Colombia (mtDNA 93.0%; CL 91-99%; microsatellites 86%; CL 72-93%) and a small apportionment to French Polynesia/Samoan Islands (mtDNA 2.9%; CL 0.0-11.5%; microsatellites 8.9%; CL 0-22%), supporting the strong connection between Colombia and the WAP. Assignment tests allocated 81 individuals to Colombia and two to French Polynesia/Samoan Islands. No other breeding grounds had significant apportionments. Direct connectivity of French Polynesia to the WAP was confirmed with the first genotype match of French Polynesia to a feeding area. Continued genetic monitoring will highlight the complex patterns of humpbacks in this rapidly changing climate. Our results serve as a baseline for humpback whale population structure, illustrate mixed-stock analysis as a useful tool for migrating wildlife, and aid in future management considerations for humpbacks.
Plan de classement
Sciences du milieu [021] ; Limnologie biologique / Océanographie biologique [034] ; Ecologie, systèmes aquatiques [036]
Description Géographique
ANTARCTIQUE
Localisation
Fonds IRD [F B010072336]
Identifiant IRD
fdi:010072336
Contact