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}
}
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.
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.
Lento,G.M.,Dalebout,M.L.,Baker,C.S.
Species and individual identification of whale and dolphin products for sale in Japan by mtDNA sequences and nuclear microsatellite profiles Technical Report
no. 399, 1998.
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Atlantic, baleen whale, baleen whales, beaked whales, developing, DNA, dolphin, dolphins, fin whale, Japan, Microsatellite, minke whale, mtDNA, North Atlantic, Oman, population, Porpoise, pygmy sperm whale, Southern Hemisphere, sperm whale, stocks, survey, whale, whales, whaling
@techreport{,
title = {Species and individual identification of whale and dolphin products for sale in Japan by mtDNA sequences and nuclear microsatellite profiles },
author = {Lento,G.M.,Dalebout,M.L.,Baker,C.S.},
year = {1998},
date = {1998-01-01},
volume = {SC/50/O8},
number = {399},
pages = {1-12},
abstract = {We report on species and individual identification of whale and dolphin products available on commercial markets of Japan in 1997/98 based on analysis of mitochondria) DNA (mtDNA) sequences and microsatellite variation. The total sample of 74 products included four species of baleen whales, the fin (n=4), sei (n=1), northern minke (n=15) and southern minke (n=39) whales. The remaining 15 samples included dolphins (n = 8; at least four species), Baird's beaked whales (n=5), a porpoise (n=1), and a pygmy sperm whale (n=1), all sold as "kujira" in Japan. It is noted that two new species, the sei whale, and the pygmy sperm whale, appeared for the first time in this series of market surveys. With the inclusion of the sei whale, a total of eight species of baleen whale have been found for sale in post-moratorium surveys of markets in Korea and Japan. Comparison of the sei whale mtDNA to reference sequences from the North Atlantic and Southern Hemisphere suggested that this product originated from the Southern Hemisphere. The last legal hunting of this population was in 1979-80. To investigate the stock origins of northern minke whale products sold in Japan, in 1997-98, the mtDNA haplotypes of these products were compared to those found previously in Korea, 1994-97 (Lento et al. 1998). This comparison revealed that four (33%) of the 12 haplotypes among the Japanese products were identical to those from Korea. This is not consistent with the hypothesis that northern minke whale products sold in Japan originate exclusively from the scientific hunting of a stock that is genetically distinct from the Korean coastal bycatch. Instead, these findings could suggest that whales from both stocks are being hunted illegally or that whale products are being smuggled between the two countries. To further investigate the possibility of smuggling and to estimate the total number of individual whales represented in commercial products, we are developing protocols for DNA profiling using microsatellite loci. Based on preliminary analysis of three loci, the four fin whale products, representing three mtDNA haplotypes, were shown to have originated from four individuals. The 15 northern minke whale products found in 1997-98, representing 12 mtDNA haplotypes, were shown to have originated from a minimum of 14 individuals. One of these products that shared a haplotype with a 1997 product, was also shown to be unique.},
keywords = {Atlantic, baleen whale, baleen whales, beaked whales, developing, DNA, dolphin, dolphins, fin whale, Japan, Microsatellite, minke whale, mtDNA, North Atlantic, Oman, population, Porpoise, pygmy sperm whale, Southern Hemisphere, sperm whale, stocks, survey, whale, whales, whaling},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
We report on species and individual identification of whale and dolphin products available on commercial markets of Japan in 1997/98 based on analysis of mitochondria) DNA (mtDNA) sequences and microsatellite variation. The total sample of 74 products included four species of baleen whales, the fin (n=4), sei (n=1), northern minke (n=15) and southern minke (n=39) whales. The remaining 15 samples included dolphins (n = 8; at least four species), Baird's beaked whales (n=5), a porpoise (n=1), and a pygmy sperm whale (n=1), all sold as "kujira" in Japan. It is noted that two new species, the sei whale, and the pygmy sperm whale, appeared for the first time in this series of market surveys. With the inclusion of the sei whale, a total of eight species of baleen whale have been found for sale in post-moratorium surveys of markets in Korea and Japan. Comparison of the sei whale mtDNA to reference sequences from the North Atlantic and Southern Hemisphere suggested that this product originated from the Southern Hemisphere. The last legal hunting of this population was in 1979-80. To investigate the stock origins of northern minke whale products sold in Japan, in 1997-98, the mtDNA haplotypes of these products were compared to those found previously in Korea, 1994-97 (Lento et al. 1998). This comparison revealed that four (33%) of the 12 haplotypes among the Japanese products were identical to those from Korea. This is not consistent with the hypothesis that northern minke whale products sold in Japan originate exclusively from the scientific hunting of a stock that is genetically distinct from the Korean coastal bycatch. Instead, these findings could suggest that whales from both stocks are being hunted illegally or that whale products are being smuggled between the two countries. To further investigate the possibility of smuggling and to estimate the total number of individual whales represented in commercial products, we are developing protocols for DNA profiling using microsatellite loci. Based on preliminary analysis of three loci, the four fin whale products, representing three mtDNA haplotypes, were shown to have originated from four individuals. The 15 northern minke whale products found in 1997-98, representing 12 mtDNA haplotypes, were shown to have originated from a minimum of 14 individuals. One of these products that shared a haplotype with a 1997 product, was also shown to be unique.