Dear colleagues: we are
pleased to announce the recent publication of "Sperm
whale population structure in the eastern and central North
Pacific inferred by
the use of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), microsatellites
and
mitochondrial DNA." in a special issue of Molecular Ecology
Resources on SNP development in non-model organisms.
The article can be obtained from the journal website
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1755-0998.2010.02973.x/abstract
or by contacting Sarah.Mesnick@Noaa.gov
Reference
Mesnick, S.L., Taylor,
B.L., Archer, F.I., Martien, K.K., Escorza Trevino, W.,
Hancock-Hanser, B.L.,
Moreno Medina, S.C., Pease, V.L., Robertson, K.M., Straley, J.M.,
Baird, R.W.,
Calambokidis, J., Schorr, G.S., Wade, P., Burkanov, V., Lunsford,
C.R.,
Rendell, L. and Morin, P.A. 2011. Sperm
whale population structure in the eastern and central North
Pacific inferred by
the use of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), microsatellites
and
mitochondrial DNA. Molecular Ecology Resources 11 (Supplement 1): 278–298.
Abstract
We use mitochondrial DNA
(mtDNA) (400 bp), six microsatellites and 36 single-nucleotide
polymorphisms (SNPs), 20 of which were
linked, to investigate population structure of sperm whales
(Physeter macrocephalus) in the eastern and central North Pacific. SNP
markers, reproducible across technologies and laboratories, are
ideal for long-term studies of globally distributed species such
as sperm whales, a species of conservation concern because of both
historical and contemporary impacts. We
estimate genetic differentiation among three strata in the
temperate to tropical waters where females are found: California
Current, Hawai`i and the eastern tropical Pacific.We then consider
how males on sub-Arctic foraging grounds
assign to these strata. The California Current stratum was
differentiated from both the other strata (P < 0.05) for
mtDNA, microsatellites
and SNPs, suggesting that the region supports a demographically
independent population and providing
the first indication that males may exhibit reproductive
philopatry. Comparisons between the Hawai`i stratum and the eastern tropical
Pacific stratum are not conclusive at this time. Comparisons with
Alaska males were statistically significant,
or nearly so, from all three strata and individuals showed mixed
assignment to, and few exclusions from, the three potential source
strata, suggesting widespread origin of males on sub-Arctic
feeding grounds.We show that SNPs have
sufficient power to detect population structure even when genetic
differentiation is low. There is a need for better analytical methods for
SNPs, especially when linked SNPs are used, but SNPs appear to be
a valuable marker for long-term studies
of globally dispersed and highly mobile species.
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Sarah L. Mesnick, PhD
Southwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries Service
La Jolla * Santa Cruz * Pacific Grove
http://swfsc.noaa.gov
sarah.mesnick@noaa.gov
3333 N. Torrey Pines Court
La Jolla, CA 92037
858.546.7148 (office)
858.546.7003 (fax)
http://swfsc.noaa.gov/prd-behavior
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