Gore, M. A.,Culloch, R,Gray, H.,Hoelzel, A. R.,Lockyer, C.,Kiani, M. S.,Waqas, U,Hussain, B,Rahim, Abdul,Shah, A.,Ormond, R. F.
Assessment of beach-cast cetaceans in Pakistan: implications for conservation and management Journal Article
In: Journal of Cetacean Research and Management, vol. 16, no. 104, pp. 1-7, 2017.
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: aging, Arabian Sea, balaenoptera edeni, beach survey, Bryde’s whale, carcass analysis, genetics, Pakistan, stranding
@article{,
title = {Assessment of beach-cast cetaceans in Pakistan: implications for conservation and management},
author = {Gore, M. A.,Culloch, R,Gray, H.,Hoelzel, A. R.,Lockyer, C.,Kiani, M. S.,Waqas, U,Hussain, B,Rahim, Abdul,Shah, A.,Ormond, R. F.},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Cetacean Research and Management},
volume = {16},
number = {104},
pages = {1-7},
abstract = {Until recently, little was known about the distribution and species occurrence of marine cetaceans in Pakistani waters, an area which needed to be
addressed exigently given its inclusion in the Indian Ocean Whale Sanctuary. Boat-based surveys (2005–09) carried out along the coast of Pakistan
identified 12 species of cetaceans. Although these surveys can be very useful for providing information on species presence and distribution,
estimates of the age and sex of these groups can be more uncertain. Consequently, this present study undertook complementary beach-based surveys
over the same period across all accessible regions of the Pakistani coast and created a community reporting scheme for stranded and beach-cast
remains of cetaceans. Tissue samples and/or skeletal material were collected over three years from 37 individual specimens, with DNA successfully
extracted from 24. Using molecular techniques, a total of seven species were identified and there was an indication that the majority of the samples
were from males. An analysis of teeth collected from 12 beach-cast odontocetes showed an age range between neonatal and 17 years. The results
of this study corroborate the presence of species observed during the boat-based surveys and identified a further three species. The data also provide
additional information on age and sex. A comparison with similar studies suggests that the stranding rate is low in Pakistan. No mass strandings
occurred during the seven year monitoring period. The results indicate that beach-based surveys are effective for gathering data on species presence
in regions where resources are limited, the terrain is harsh and availability of data is low. Ultimately, the results of this work will help with assessing
the conservation status and management requirements of the region’s cetaceans, both locally and internationally with respect to the Indian Ocean
Whale Sanctuary. Species identified were 4 bottlenose
dolphins (Tursiops sp.), 6 long-beaked common dolphins, 1
spinner dolphin, 4 Indian Ocean humpback dolphins, 1 pantropical
spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata) and 5 Bryde’s
whales},
keywords = {aging, Arabian Sea, balaenoptera edeni, beach survey, Bryde’s whale, carcass analysis, genetics, Pakistan, stranding},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
addressed exigently given its inclusion in the Indian Ocean Whale Sanctuary. Boat-based surveys (2005–09) carried out along the coast of Pakistan
identified 12 species of cetaceans. Although these surveys can be very useful for providing information on species presence and distribution,
estimates of the age and sex of these groups can be more uncertain. Consequently, this present study undertook complementary beach-based surveys
over the same period across all accessible regions of the Pakistani coast and created a community reporting scheme for stranded and beach-cast
remains of cetaceans. Tissue samples and/or skeletal material were collected over three years from 37 individual specimens, with DNA successfully
extracted from 24. Using molecular techniques, a total of seven species were identified and there was an indication that the majority of the samples
were from males. An analysis of teeth collected from 12 beach-cast odontocetes showed an age range between neonatal and 17 years. The results
of this study corroborate the presence of species observed during the boat-based surveys and identified a further three species. The data also provide
additional information on age and sex. A comparison with similar studies suggests that the stranding rate is low in Pakistan. No mass strandings
occurred during the seven year monitoring period. The results indicate that beach-based surveys are effective for gathering data on species presence
in regions where resources are limited, the terrain is harsh and availability of data is low. Ultimately, the results of this work will help with assessing
the conservation status and management requirements of the region’s cetaceans, both locally and internationally with respect to the Indian Ocean
Whale Sanctuary. Species identified were 4 bottlenose
dolphins (Tursiops sp.), 6 long-beaked common dolphins, 1
spinner dolphin, 4 Indian Ocean humpback dolphins, 1 pantropical
spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata) and 5 Bryde’s
whales
Amaral, A. R.,Collins, T.,Minton, G.,Baldwin, R.,Willson, A.,Kershaw, Francine,Gray, H.,Findlay, K.,Brownell Jr, R.L.,Rosenbaum, H. C.
Update on Genetic Analyses of Arabian Sea Humpback Whales Technical Report
no. 9, 2016.
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Sea, breeding grounds, feeding grounds, genetics, Gulf of Masirah, Humpback Whale, megaptera novaeangliae, Microsatellite, sexing
@techreport{,
title = {Update on Genetic Analyses of Arabian Sea Humpback Whales},
author = {Amaral, A. R.,Collins, T.,Minton, G.,Baldwin, R.,Willson, A.,Kershaw, Francine,Gray, H.,Findlay, K.,Brownell Jr, R.L.,Rosenbaum, H. C.},
year = {2016},
date = {2016-01-01},
journal = {Working Paper presented to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission},
number = {9},
pages = {6},
publisher = {IWC},
abstract = {From the 49 new samples, 44 were successfully genotyped at 10 microsatellite loci. We identified 27 males and 17 females. Within this dataset, 7 duplicate samples were found. Five samples representing 3 individuals in the 2015 dataset registered as genotypic matches with animals sampled in the 2004 dataset. An additional 9 samples involving 6 individuals that represent potential matches between the 2015 and 2004 dataset are being reviewed to determine if they represent inter-year recaptures. As the data were generated very recently, further checks to clarify issues with some microsatellite loci will be completed. Six samples failed to amplify consistently for sexing markers and need to be revisited.
Analysis of the combined genotypic dataset will be completed by the end of June/early July 2016. The genotypic matches and sexing data will be incorporated into the Oman Photo-ID database, and used to generate robust updated photo-ID and genotypic mark-recapture estimates of population abundance. These data have also been used to determine or confirm the sex of the 9 satellite tagged whales off the coast of Oman (see SH28), and a significant number of other whales identified photographically off the coast of Oman. This will prove highly valuable if future satellite tagging efforts are undertaken in Oman, as previous tagging work has been significantly male-biased (See SH28), and future tagging should target known females.
Preliminary assessment of the new sexing data (although not yet fully complete) is providing valuable insight into possible difference in habitat use between the two primary study sites off the coast of Oman (see Figure 1). Minton et al. (2011) documented a heavy bias toward males in Dhofar and a ratio near parity in the Gulf of Masirah. These results were based on the total number of photographic captures of known sex individuals. The combination of new and old sexing information allows for a more nuanced examination of this phenomenon: the male-female ratio based on individual whales for which sex was determined in each study site (regardless of how frequently they were observed) is 2:1 in Dhofar (n=30), whilst in the Gulf of Masirah this ratio is slightly biased toward females, with 45% of individuals of known sex observed in that study area being male, and 55% female (n=49). More detailed analysis of these sexing data in relation to survey effort and photographic identification data will yield further important insights into habitat use, behaviour, and social interactions, critical for the conservation of this population.},
keywords = {Arabian Sea, breeding grounds, feeding grounds, genetics, Gulf of Masirah, Humpback Whale, megaptera novaeangliae, Microsatellite, sexing},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
Analysis of the combined genotypic dataset will be completed by the end of June/early July 2016. The genotypic matches and sexing data will be incorporated into the Oman Photo-ID database, and used to generate robust updated photo-ID and genotypic mark-recapture estimates of population abundance. These data have also been used to determine or confirm the sex of the 9 satellite tagged whales off the coast of Oman (see SH28), and a significant number of other whales identified photographically off the coast of Oman. This will prove highly valuable if future satellite tagging efforts are undertaken in Oman, as previous tagging work has been significantly male-biased (See SH28), and future tagging should target known females.
Preliminary assessment of the new sexing data (although not yet fully complete) is providing valuable insight into possible difference in habitat use between the two primary study sites off the coast of Oman (see Figure 1). Minton et al. (2011) documented a heavy bias toward males in Dhofar and a ratio near parity in the Gulf of Masirah. These results were based on the total number of photographic captures of known sex individuals. The combination of new and old sexing information allows for a more nuanced examination of this phenomenon: the male-female ratio based on individual whales for which sex was determined in each study site (regardless of how frequently they were observed) is 2:1 in Dhofar (n=30), whilst in the Gulf of Masirah this ratio is slightly biased toward females, with 45% of individuals of known sex observed in that study area being male, and 55% female (n=49). More detailed analysis of these sexing data in relation to survey effort and photographic identification data will yield further important insights into habitat use, behaviour, and social interactions, critical for the conservation of this population.
Nanayakkara, Ranil P.,Herath, H. M. J. C. B.,Mel, Ruvinda K. de,Kusuminda, T. G. Tharaka
Molecular Genetic Identification of Beached Whales in Sri Lanka from Mitochondrial DNA Sequence Data Journal Article
In: Ceylon Journal of Science, vol. 43, no. 179, pp. 73, 2015.
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Sea, balaenoptera musculus, Blue whale, genetics, Indian Ocean, mtDNA, Sri Lanka
@article{,
title = {Molecular Genetic Identification of Beached Whales in Sri Lanka from Mitochondrial DNA Sequence Data},
author = {Nanayakkara, Ranil P.,Herath, H. M. J. C. B.,Mel, Ruvinda K. de,Kusuminda, T. G. Tharaka},
year = {2015},
date = {2015-01-01},
journal = {Ceylon Journal of Science},
volume = {43},
number = {179},
pages = {73},
abstract = {In the current study we attempt to identify eight baleen whale carcasses that were washed ashore to the Western, Northwestern and Southern coasts of Sri Lanka in 2010, using molecular phylogenetic techniques. Initial physical examination suggested that these carcasses belonged to blue whales ( Balaenoptera musculus ). Analysis of sequences of the mitochondrial control region from baleen whales confirmed that the samples belonged to blue whales ( Balaenoptera musculus ). However, it was impossible to identify the population of blue whales the individuals belonged to, due to the lack of strong population genetic signals in the mitochondrial control region sequences.},
keywords = {Arabian Sea, balaenoptera musculus, Blue whale, genetics, Indian Ocean, mtDNA, Sri Lanka},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Amaral, A.R.,Beheregaray, L.B.,Sequeira, M.,Robertson, K.M.,Coelho, M.M., Möller, L.M.
Worldwide Phylogeography of the genus Delphinus revisited Technical Report
no. 7, 2009, ISBN: SC/61/SM11.
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Sea, Common dolphin, delphinus capensis, Delphinus delphis, delphinus sp., genetics, Indian Ocean, taxonomy
@techreport{,
title = {Worldwide Phylogeography of the genus Delphinus revisited},
author = {Amaral, A.R.,Beheregaray, L.B.,Sequeira, M.,Robertson, K.M.,Coelho, M.M., Möller, L.M.},
issn = {SC/61/SM11},
year = {2009},
date = {2009-01-01},
journal = {Report to the Scientific Committee of the 61st meeting of the International Whaling Commisssion},
number = {7},
publisher = {International Whaling Commission},
abstract = {The genus Delphinus comprises two species and one subspecies: the short-beaked common
dolphin, Delphinus delphis (Linnaeus, 1758), distributed in continental shelf and pelagic waters of
the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the long-beaked common dolphin, D. capensis (Gray, 1828),
distributed in nearshore tropical and temperate waters of the Pacific and Southern Atlantic Oceans,
and the Arabian long-beaked common dolphin, D. capensis tropicalis van Bree, 1971, which
occurs in the Indian Ocean. Here we present a worldwide phylogeographic study based on
sequences of the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b gene. A total of 279 individuals were
analysed: 211 D. delphis from the Northeast (82) and Northwest (27) Atlantic, and Northeast (28)
and Southwest (74) Pacific; 26 D. capensis from the Northeast Pacific, 18 D. capensis from the
Southeast Atlantic, and 24 D. capensis tropicalis from the Indian Ocean. Haplotype and nucleotide
diversities of most populations were high when compared with other cetacean species, which is
possibly a signature of large, long-term effective population size. Shared haplotypes between the
two common dolphin species and subspecies were found, as well as between all oceans sampled.
Fixation indices (öST and FST) show that the tropicalis and D. capensis samples from the NE
Pacific are differentiated from samples from all other regions. D. delphis from the Northeast and
Southwest Pacific also show some differentiation from samples from other regions, but with
relatively low values of fixation indices. In contrast, the median-joining network reveals clusters
of haplotypes without a clear geographical or taxonomic correspondence. Overall, these results
suggest that relatively high levels of gene flow occur between regions and possibly among
recognized species, questioning current taxonomy, confounding population history and making the
establishment of population boundaries very difficult. Several phylogeographical hypotheses for
the observed patterns are currently being tested with recently developed methods that use
coalescent models for estimating demographic parameters. Additionally, data on a powerful set of
microsatellite markers are being obtained in order to document the direction and magnitude of
events of recent gene flow between populations and oceanic regions.},
keywords = {Arabian Sea, Common dolphin, delphinus capensis, Delphinus delphis, delphinus sp., genetics, Indian Ocean, taxonomy},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
dolphin, Delphinus delphis (Linnaeus, 1758), distributed in continental shelf and pelagic waters of
the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the long-beaked common dolphin, D. capensis (Gray, 1828),
distributed in nearshore tropical and temperate waters of the Pacific and Southern Atlantic Oceans,
and the Arabian long-beaked common dolphin, D. capensis tropicalis van Bree, 1971, which
occurs in the Indian Ocean. Here we present a worldwide phylogeographic study based on
sequences of the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b gene. A total of 279 individuals were
analysed: 211 D. delphis from the Northeast (82) and Northwest (27) Atlantic, and Northeast (28)
and Southwest (74) Pacific; 26 D. capensis from the Northeast Pacific, 18 D. capensis from the
Southeast Atlantic, and 24 D. capensis tropicalis from the Indian Ocean. Haplotype and nucleotide
diversities of most populations were high when compared with other cetacean species, which is
possibly a signature of large, long-term effective population size. Shared haplotypes between the
two common dolphin species and subspecies were found, as well as between all oceans sampled.
Fixation indices (öST and FST) show that the tropicalis and D. capensis samples from the NE
Pacific are differentiated from samples from all other regions. D. delphis from the Northeast and
Southwest Pacific also show some differentiation from samples from other regions, but with
relatively low values of fixation indices. In contrast, the median-joining network reveals clusters
of haplotypes without a clear geographical or taxonomic correspondence. Overall, these results
suggest that relatively high levels of gene flow occur between regions and possibly among
recognized species, questioning current taxonomy, confounding population history and making the
establishment of population boundaries very difficult. Several phylogeographical hypotheses for
the observed patterns are currently being tested with recently developed methods that use
coalescent models for estimating demographic parameters. Additionally, data on a powerful set of
microsatellite markers are being obtained in order to document the direction and magnitude of
events of recent gene flow between populations and oceanic regions.
Amaral, A.R.,Coelho, M.M.,Beheregaray, L.B.,Robertson, K.M.,Möller, L.M.
Genetic affinities of common dolphins (genus Delphinus) occurring in the Arabian Sea Conference
no. 288, 2009.
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Sea, Common dolphin, delphinus capensis, Delphinus delphis, genetics, Gulf of Oman, morphology
@conference{,
title = {Genetic affinities of common dolphins (genus Delphinus) occurring in the Arabian Sea},
author = {Amaral, A.R.,Coelho, M.M.,Beheregaray, L.B.,Robertson, K.M.,Möller, L.M.},
year = {2009},
date = {2009-01-01},
journal = {Indian Ocean Cetacean Symposium},
number = {288},
abstract = {Taxonomic revision of the genus Delphinusis due – single widely distributed superspecies?
•For the time being, the short-beaked and long-beaked morphotypes are most appropriately referred to a s"short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus sp.)" and "long-beaked common dolphin (Delphinussp.) rather than Delphinus delphis and D. capensis.},
keywords = {Arabian Sea, Common dolphin, delphinus capensis, Delphinus delphis, genetics, Gulf of Oman, morphology},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {conference}
}
•For the time being, the short-beaked and long-beaked morphotypes are most appropriately referred to a s"short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus sp.)" and "long-beaked common dolphin (Delphinussp.) rather than Delphinus delphis and D. capensis.