Loss of genetic diversity in sea otters (Enhydra lutris) associated with the fur trade of the 18th and 19th centuries

Sea otter (Enhydra lutris) populations experienced widespread reduction and extirpation due to the fur trade of the 18th and 19th centuries. We examined genetic variation within four microsatellite markers and the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) d‐loop in one prefur trade population and compared it to fiv...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Molecular ecology 2002-10, Vol.11 (10), p.1899-1903
Main Authors: Larson, Shawn, Jameson, Ronald, Etnier, Michael, Fleming, Melissa, Bentzen, Paul
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ancient DNA
Animals
Animals, Wild
Bone and Bones
Commerce - history
DNA, Mitochondrial - genetics
Enhydra lutris
genetic diversity
Genetic Variation - genetics
Genetics, Population
Hair
History, 18th Century
History, 19th Century
Microsatellite Repeats - genetics
microsatellites
Otters - genetics
Paleontology
population bottleneck
Population Dynamics
sea otter
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Summary:Sea otter (Enhydra lutris) populations experienced widespread reduction and extirpation due to the fur trade of the 18th and 19th centuries. We examined genetic variation within four microsatellite markers and the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) d‐loop in one prefur trade population and compared it to five modern populations to determine potential losses in genetic variation. While mtDNA sequence variability was low within both modern and extinct populations, analysis of microsatellite allelic data revealed that the prefur trade population had significantly more variation than all the extant sea otter populations. Reduced genetic variation may lead to inbreeding depression and we believe sea otter populations should be closely monitored for potential associated negative effects.
ISSN:0962-1083
1365-294X
DOI:10.1046/j.1365-294X.2002.01599.x