Dear Colleagues,
We are pleased to announce the recent publication in Conservation
Genetics, describing the genetic population structure of /Tursiops
australis/ in south-eastern Australia.
Charlton-Robb, K., Taylor, A.C., McKechnie, S.W. (2014) Population
genetic structure of the Burrunan dolphin (/Tursiops australis/) in
coastal waters of south-eastern Australia: conservation implications.
Conservation Genetics. DOI 10.1007/s10592-014-0652-6
Abstract
The Burrunan dolphin, /Tursiops australis/, is a newly described species
endemic to southern Australian coastal waters. The current distribution
ranges from South Australia, east to Victoria and south to Tasmania. In
the eastern region of their range, only two known resident populations
of /T. australis/ occur, Port Phillip Bay and the Gippsland Lakes.
Little else is known about the population status and migration patterns
of the species. Here we examine population genetics of /T. australis/
using ten microsatellite loci and two sequences of mitochondrial DNA,
the control region (~450 bp) and cytochrome b (~1,200 bp). A total of
163 /T. australis/ samples were collected from various locations across
the Victorian and Tasmanian coastlines. Genetic data showed the highest
differentiation between the Port Phillip Bay and both Gippsland Lakes
and Tasmanian samples. Network analysis, using concatenated mtDNA
sequences, showed geographic segregation and Bayesian analysis, using
microsatellite data, also supported the presence of two genetic
clusters. Both microsatellite and mtDNA data indicated low genetic
diversity when compared to levels reported for other dolphins. Maternal
philopatry was suggested for Port Phillip Bay in particular. Our data
suggest that /T. australis/ from coastal waters of south-eastern
Australia consists of two populations with little or no contemporary
gene flow; one occurs in Port Phillip Bay; the second extends from the
east coast of Tasmania across Bass Strait to Gippsland Lakes. /Tursiops
australis/ appears to be characterised by small, localised, genetically
distinct populations and should thus be further assessed under local,
national and international threatened species criteria.
The publication is available “Online First” via
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10592-014-0652-6
Kind Regards,
Kate Charlton-Robb
--
Dr Kate-Charlton-Robb
Principal Researcher
Australian Marine Mammal Conservation Foundation
PO Box 2046
Hampton East VIC 3188
e: [email protected]
m: 0416227575
w: ammcf.org.au
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