Asst.Prof. Draško Holcer, Ph.D.
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Blue World Institute of Marine Research and Conservation
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Dear colleagues,
my co-authors and I are pleased to share our new publication in Conservation Genetics:
Gaspari, S., Dooley, C., Shreves, K., Silva, C.S.E., Chapman, N., Genov, Gonzalvo, J., Holcer, D. & Moura, A.E. 2023. Connectivity patterns of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the north-east Mediterranean: implications for local conservation. Conservation Genetics. DOI 10.1007/s10592-023-01577-4
Full-text access is available by using the following link: https://rdcu.be/dmQur
Abstract
Accurate description of population structure and genetic
connectivity is essential for efficient conservation efforts.
Along the European coastline, Tursiops truncatus typically
shows high site fidelity to relatively small areas, often
semi-enclosed waters, but patterns of genetic connectivity among
such areas are often poorly understood. In this study, we
investigate the patterns of genetic structure and connectivity of Tursiops
truncatus in the Adriatic Sea and contiguous Mediterranean,
using multilocus microsatellite genotypes. We focus particularly
on areas where photo-ID studies suggest the occurrence of local
‘resident communities’. Patterns of geographic structure were
identified using multivariate methods, Bayesian assignment
methods, and analyses of relatedness. Our results are consistent
with the occurrence of communities with high site fidelity to the
Gulf of Ambracia, Croatian island archipelagos, and the Gulf of
Trieste. Dolphins in these regions do not fit a model of complete
panmixia, but neither do they exhibit multiple discrete population
units. Even for the community in the Gulf of Ambracia, which is
well separated by several population genetic estimates, we can
unambiguously identify individual dispersal to the most distant
area in the Northern Adriatic Sea. We suggest that the population
structure patterns in these animals might be best described as a
stable metapopulation and discuss the implications of such a model
for regional conservation efforts. The critically endangered
Ambracian sub-population is particularly well differentiated, and
is therefore at high risk of local extinction due to relatively
small size, high degree of isolation and exposure to several
anthropogenic pressures. The exact geographic boundaries of
individual sub-populations cannot always be determined due to lack
of sampling and low resolution of the methods used. Nevertheless,
our results have important implications for effective conservation
of local communities showing strong site fidelity.
Should you need a pdf copy of the paper or if you have any questions please email me (drasko.holcer@blue-world.org).
Sincerely,
Draško Holcer
Asst.Prof. Draško Holcer, Ph.D.
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Blue World Institute of Marine Research and Conservation
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