Rosenbaum H.C. auteur aut IRD Kershaw F. auteur aut IRD Mendez M. auteur aut IRD Pomilla C. auteur aut IRD Leslie M.S. auteur aut IRD Findlay K.P. auteur aut IRD Best P.B. auteur aut IRD Collins T. auteur aut IRD Vely M. auteur aut IRD Engel M.H. auteur aut IRD Baldwin R. auteur aut IRD Minton G. auteur aut IRD Meyer M. auteur aut IRD Florez-Gonzalez L. auteur aut IRD Poole M.M. auteur aut IRD Hauser N. auteur aut IRD Garrigue Claire auteur aut IRD Brasseur M. auteur aut IRD Bannister J. auteur aut IRD Anderson M. auteur aut IRD Olavarria C. auteur aut IRD Baker C.S. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf reformatted digital access The description of genetic population structure over a species' geographic range can provide insights into its evolutionary history and also support effective management efforts. Assessments for globally distributed species are rare, however, requiring significant international coordination and collaboration. The global distribution of demographically discrete populations for the humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae is not fully known, hampering the definition of appropriate management units. Here, we present the first circumglobal assessment of mitochondrial genetic population structure across the species' range in the Southern Hemisphere and Arabian Sea. We combine new and existing data from the mitochondrial (mt)DNA control region that resulted in a 311 bp consensus sequence of the mtDNA control region for 3009 individuals sampled across 14 breeding stocks and subpopulations currently recognized by the International Whaling Commission. We assess genetic diversity and test for genetic differentiation and also estimate the magnitude and directionality of historic matrilineal gene flow between putative populations. Our results indicate that maternally directed site fidelity drives significant genetic population structure between breeding stocks within ocean basins. However, patterns of connectivity differ across the circumpolar range, possibly as a result of differences in the extent of longitudinal movements on feeding areas. The number of population comparisons observed to be significantly differentiated were found to diminish at the subpopulation scale when nucleotide differences were examined, indicating that more complex processes underlie genetic structure at this scale. It is crucial that these complexities and uncertainties are afforded greater consideration in management and regulatory efforts. specialized OCEAN INDIEN PACIFIQUE ATLANTIQUE 034 036 32 551-567 [+ suppl., 2 p.] 2017 1863-5407 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010071854 10.3354/esr00822 1863-5407 [F B010071854] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010071854 https://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/divers18-01/010071854.pdf IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2018-01-09 2018-02-05 fdi:010071854 fre