TY - JOUR
T1 - Fine-scale genetic structure in short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) along the East Australian Current
AU - Möller, Luciana
AU - Valdez, Fernanda Pedone
AU - Allen, Simon
AU - Bilgmann, Kerstin
AU - Corrigan, Shannon
AU - Beheregaray, Luciano B.
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - Oceanographic processes play a significant role in shaping the genetic structure of marine populations, but it is less clear whether they affect genetic differentiation of highly mobile vertebrates. We used microsatellite markers and mtDNA control region sequences to investigate the spatial genetic structure of short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in southeastern Australia, a region characterised by complex oceanographic conditions associated with the East Australian Current (EAC). A total of 115 biopsy samples of dolphins were collected from six localities spanning approximately 1,000 km of the New South Wales (NSW) coastline. We found evidence for contrasting genetic diversity and fine-scale genetic structure, characterised by three genetically differentiated populations with varying levels of admixture. Spatial genetic structure was not explained by a model of isolation by distance, instead it coincides with main patterns of oceanographic variation along the EAC. We propose that common dolphins along the EAC may be adapted to three water masses recently characterised in this region.
AB - Oceanographic processes play a significant role in shaping the genetic structure of marine populations, but it is less clear whether they affect genetic differentiation of highly mobile vertebrates. We used microsatellite markers and mtDNA control region sequences to investigate the spatial genetic structure of short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in southeastern Australia, a region characterised by complex oceanographic conditions associated with the East Australian Current (EAC). A total of 115 biopsy samples of dolphins were collected from six localities spanning approximately 1,000 km of the New South Wales (NSW) coastline. We found evidence for contrasting genetic diversity and fine-scale genetic structure, characterised by three genetically differentiated populations with varying levels of admixture. Spatial genetic structure was not explained by a model of isolation by distance, instead it coincides with main patterns of oceanographic variation along the EAC. We propose that common dolphins along the EAC may be adapted to three water masses recently characterised in this region.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78650745798&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00227-010-1546-x
DO - 10.1007/s00227-010-1546-x
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85027955721
SN - 0025-3162
VL - 158
SP - 113
EP - 126
JO - Marine Biology
JF - Marine Biology
IS - 1
ER -