Genetic analysis of right whales in the eastern North Pacific confirms severe extirpation risk

Endangered Species Research

K. K. Martien¹  K. M. Robertson¹  P. R. Wade¹  R. L. Pitman¹  R. L. Brownell Jr.¹  J. C. Salinas¹  A. S. Kennedy¹  R. G. LeDuc¹  B. L. Taylor¹  P. J. Clapham¹  A. M. Burdin¹ 

关键词: Critically Endangered species;    Mammal;    IUCN Red List category;    Eubalaena japonica;    Genetics;    Right whales;   

DOI  :  10.3354/esr00440

学科分类：动物科学

来源: Inter-Research

【 摘 要 】

ABSTRACT: Genetic analysis of 49 biopsy samples from North Pacific right whales Eubalaena japonica in the eastern (48) and western (1) North Pacific revealed 24 individual whales with 7 mitochondrial haplotypes. Three pairs of large and small individuals were identified in the field; genotype analysis indicated that 2 of these could represent mother−offspring pairs; for the third small individual, no sampled female genetically qualified as a potential mother. In aggregate, the population appears to have lost some genetic diversity, though not to the degree of North Atlantic right whales E. glacialis, and males outnumber females 2:1. A comparison of the eastern Pacific samples to a single Russian sample suggested that the 2 populations are isolated to some degree. The effective population size for the eastern North Pacific was calculated to be 11.6 (95% CI: 2.9−75.0), based on the estimated linkage disequilibrium. These results further indicate that this population is at immediate risk of extirpation.

【 授权许可】

Unknown