Dear MARMAM community, My co-authors and I are pleased to share our new publication: Gose, M.-A.; Humble E.; Brownlow A.; Mikkelsen B.; Loftus C.; Wall D.; Rogan E.; ten Doeschate M.; Davison N.; and Ogden R. Stranding collections indicate broad-scale connectivity across the range of a pelagic marine predator, the Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus) in ICES Journal of Marine Science.
Find the Open Access paper here: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsad050 Abstract Understanding the extent of population genetic connectivity in highly mobile marine species is vital for delineating management units. However, obtaining samples for generating genetic data is challenging for species inhabiting inaccessible pelagic waters. As a result, management strategies do not always align with underlying population biology. Marine strandings provide an accessible and cost-effective sample source for research on elusive cetaceans and can be used collaboratively among stranding networks to generate ecosystem-wide population genetic assessments. Here, we used samples collected from strandings and free-ranging individuals across the North Atlantic to investigate population structure, genetic diversity, and individual relatedness in the Atlantic white-sided dolphin (AWSD; Lagenorhynchus acutus), a widely distributed marine predator. Mitochondrial DNA sequences and nuclear DNA single-nucleotide polymorphisms showed a complete lack of population differentiation across the species' range, implying an unusual pattern of strong connectivity. No differences in genetic diversity among geographic regions and weak within-group relatedness further support the existence of species-wide panmixia in AWSD. This study emphasises the value of long-term stranding collections for cetacean research and has important implications for AWSD conservation management. Please feel free to email me any questions at [email protected] Kind regards, Marc-Alexander Gose Ph.D. Student in Conservation Genetics R(D)SVS & The Roslin Institute University of Edinburgh <https://www.ed.ac.uk/vet/conservation-science/conservation-genetics/projects/white-beaked-and-atlantic-white-sided-dolphin-cons>Find a Project Description here<https://www.ed.ac.uk/vet/conservation-science/conservation-genetics/projects/white-beaked-and-atlantic-white-sided-dolphin-cons> The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336. Is e buidheann carthannais a th’ ann an Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann, clàraichte an Alba, àireamh clàraidh SC005336.
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