@article{,

title = {First circumglobal assessment of Southern Hemisphere humpback whale mitochondrial genetic variation and implications for management},

author = {Rosenbaum, H. C.,Kershaw, F.,Mendez, M.,Pomilla, C.,Leslie, M. S.,Findlay, K. P.,Best, P. B.,Collins, T.,Vely, M.,Engel, M. H.,Baldwin, R.,Minton, G.,Meÿer, M.,Flórez-González, L.,Poole, M. M.,Hauser, N.,Garrigue, C.,Brasseur, M.,Bannister, J.,Anderson, M.,Olavarría, C.,Baker, C. S.},

url = {http://www.int-res.com/abstracts/esr/v32/p551-567/},

year  = {2017},

date = {2017-01-01},

journal = {Endangered Species Research},

volume = {32},

number = {213},

pages = {551-567},

abstract = {ABSTRACT: 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 \textit{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.},

keywords = {Arabian Sea, breeding grounds, Genetic differentiation, Humpback Whale, megaptera novaeangliae, mtDNA, population structure, Stock assessment},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{,

title = {The World's Most Isolated and Distinct Whale Population? Humpback Whales of the Arabian Sea},

author = {Pomilla, Cristina,Amaral, Ana R.,Collins, Tim,Minton, Gianna,Findlay, Ken,Leslie, Matthew S.,Ponnampalam, Louisa,Baldwin, Robert,Rosenbaum, Howard},

url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0114162},

year  = {2014},

date = {2014-01-01},

journal = {PLoS ONE},

volume = {9},

number = {194},

pages = {e114162},

publisher = {Public Library of Science},

abstract = {
A clear understanding of population structure is essential for assessing conservation status and implementing management strategies. A small, non-migratory population of humpback whales in the Arabian Sea is classified as “Endangered” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, an assessment constrained by a lack of data, including limited understanding of its relationship to other populations. We analysed 11 microsatellite markers and mitochondrial DNA sequences extracted from 67 Arabian Sea humpback whale tissue samples and compared them to equivalent datasets from the Southern Hemisphere and North Pacific. Results show that the Arabian Sea population is highly distinct; estimates of gene flow and divergence times suggest a Southern Indian Ocean origin but indicate that it has been isolated for approximately 70,000 years, remarkable for a species that is typically highly migratory. Genetic diversity values are significantly lower than those obtained for Southern Hemisphere populations and signatures of ancient and recent genetic bottlenecks were identified. Our findings suggest this is the world's most isolated humpback whale population, which, when combined with low population abundance estimates and anthropogenic threats, raises concern for its survival. We recommend an amendment of the status of the population to “Critically Endangered” on the IUCN Red List.
},

keywords = {Arabian Sea, Evolution, Genetic differentiation, Humpback Whale, megaptera novaeangliae, migration, population identity, Stock identity, Threats},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{,

title = {Molecular ecology meets remote sensing: environmental drivers to population structure of humpback dolphins in the Western Indian Ocean},

author = {Mendez, M.,Subramaniam, A.,Collins, T.,Minton, G.,Baldwin, R.,Berggren, P.,Sa¨rnblad, A.,Amir, O. A.,Peddemors, V.,Karczmarski, L.,Guissamulo, A.,Rosenbaum, H.C.},

year  = {2011},

date = {2011-01-01},

journal = {Heredity},

number = {404},

pages = {1-13},

abstract = {Genetic analyses of population structure can be placed in

explicit environmental contexts if appropriate environmental

data are available. Here, we use high-coverage and highresolution

oceanographic and genetic sequence data to

assess population structure patterns and their potential

environmental influences for humpback dolphins in the

Western Indian Ocean. We analyzed mitochondrial DNA

data from 94 dolphins from the coasts of South Africa,

Mozambique, Tanzania and Oman, employing frequencybased

and maximum-likelihood algorithms to assess population

structure and migration patterns. The genetic data were

combined with 13 years of remote sensing oceanographic

data of variables known to influence cetacean dispersal and

population structure. Our analyses show strong and highly

significant genetic structure between all putative populations,

except for those in South Africa and Mozambique. Interestingly,

the oceanographic data display marked environmental

heterogeneity between all sampling areas and a degree of

overlap between South Africa and Mozambique. Our

combined analyses therefore suggest the occurrence of

genetically isolated populations of humpback dolphins in

areas that are environmentally distinct. This study highlights

the utility of molecular tools in combination with highresolution

and high-coverage environmental data to address

questions not only pertaining to genetic population structure,

but also to relevant ecological processes in marine species},

keywords = {Genetic differentiation, indopacific humpback dolphin, migration, population structure, remote sensing, sousa, Sousa chinensis},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}