Cultural traditions across a migratory network shape the genetic structure of southern right whales around Australia and New Zealand

• Published in: Scientific reports 2015-11, Vol.5 (1), p.16182-16182, Article 16182
• Main Authors: Carroll, E. L., Baker, C. S., Watson, M., Alderman, R., Bannister, J., Gaggiotti, O. E., Gröcke, D. R., Patenaude, N., Harcourt, R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 45/23; 45/77; 631/158; 631/158/2039; 631/158/2452; 631/208/457; Abundance; Animal Migration; Animals; Aquatic mammals; Australia; DNA, Mitochondrial - genetics; Feeding; Gene frequency; Genetic diversity; Genetic structure; Genetic Variation; Genetics, Population; Genotypes; Haplotypes; Humanities and Social Sciences; Migratory species; Mitochondrial DNA; multidisciplinary; New Zealand; Population structure; Return migration; Science; Site fidelity; Stable isotopes; Traditions; Whales; Whales & whaling; Whales - genetics; Whaling
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/srep16182

Fidelity to migratory destinations is an important driver of connectivity in marine and avian species. Here we assess the role of maternally directed learning of migratory habitats, or migratory culture, on the population structure of the endangered Australian and New Zealand southern right whale. Using DNA profiles, comprising mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotypes (500 bp), microsatellite genotypes (17 loci) and sex from 128 individually-identified whales, we find significant differentiation among winter calving grounds based on both mtDNA haplotype (F ST  = 0.048, Φ ST  = 0.109, p