attard-lowgenetic-2015.pdf (377.01 kB)
Low genetic diversity in pygmy blue whales is due to climate-induced diversification rather than anthropogenic impacts
journal contribution
posted on 2015-05-01, 00:00 authored by C R Attard, L B Beheregaray, K C Jenner, Peter Gill, M N Jenner, Margaret Morrice, P R Teske, L M MöllerUnusually low genetic diversity can be a warning of an urgent need to mitigate causative anthropogenic activities. However, current low levels of genetic diversity in a population could also be due to natural historical events, including recent evolutionary divergence, or long-term persistence at a small population size. Here, we determine whether the relatively low genetic diversity of pygmy blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) in Australia is due to natural causes or overexploitation. We apply recently developed analytical approaches in the largest genetic dataset ever compiled to study blue whales (297 samples collected after whaling and representing lineages from Australia, Antarctica and Chile). We find that low levels of genetic diversity in Australia are due to a natural founder event from Antarctic blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus intermedia) that occurred around the Last Glacial Maximum, followed by evolutionary divergence. Historical climate change has therefore driven the evolution of blue whales into genetically, phenotypically and behaviourally distinct lineages that will likely be influenced by future climate change.
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Journal
Biology LettersVolume
11Issue
5Pagination
1 - 5Publisher
The Royal SocietyLocation
London, Eng.Publisher DOI
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eISSN
1744-957XLanguage
engPublication classification
C Journal article; C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2015, The Royal SocietyUsage metrics
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AustraliaBalaenoptera musculusclimate changeendangered speciesphylogeographyspeciationAnimalsBalaenopteraClimateConservation of Natural ResourcesFounder EffectGenetic VariationPopulation DensityScience & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicineBiologyEcologyEvolutionary BiologyLife Sciences & Biomedicine - Other TopicsEnvironmental Sciences & EcologyBALAENOPTERA-MUSCULUSSOUTHERN-HEMISPHEREPOPULATIONHISTORYOCEAN
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