[MARMAM] New Publication - Baleen whale microsatellite panel for individual identification and parentage assignment in Mysticeti (Marcos Suárez Menéndez & Martine Bérubé)

[Suárez Menéndez , Marcos]

Dear all,

On behalf of all the co-authors I'm happy to share our new publication
in *Global
Ecology and Conservation "*Baleen whale microsatellite panel for individual
identification and parentage assignment in *Mysticeti"*

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e02947

*Abstract*

Highly polymorphic single tandem repeat loci (STR, also known as
microsatellite loci) remain a familiar, cost efficient class of genetic
markers in genetic studies in ecology, behavior and conservation. Here we
characterize a new, universal set of ten STR loci in seven species of
baleen whales, optimized for PCR amplification in two multiplex reactions
along with a Y chromosome marker for sex determination. The optimized,
universal set of STR loci provides a convenient starting point for new
genetic studies in baleen whales aimed at identifying individuals and
populations. Data from the new STR loci were combined with genotypes from
previously published STR loci to assess the power to assign parentage using
paternity exclusion in four species: fin whale (*Balaenoptera physalus*),
humpback whale (*Megaptera novaeangliae*), blue whale (*B. musculus*) and
bowhead whale (*Balaena mysticetus*). Our results suggest that parentage
studies should always be accompanied by a power analysis in order to
ascertain that each individual specific study is based upon data with
sufficient power to assign parentage with statistical rigor.

Best,
Marcos

-- 
*Marcos Suárez Menéndez, MSc. *(he/him)
PhD Student | Marine Evolution and Conservation
Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES)
University of Groningen
Zernike Campus, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
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[MARMAM] New Publication - Wild pedigrees inform mutation rates and historic abundance in baleen whales (Marcos Suárez Menéndez)

[Suárez Menéndez , Marcos]

Dear all,

On behalf of all the co-authors I'm happy to share our new publication in
*Science* "Wild pedigrees inform mutation rates and historic abundance in
baleen whales"

https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adf2160

*Abstract*

Phylogeny-based estimates suggesting a low germline mutation rate (μ) in
baleen whales have influenced research ranging from assessments of whaling
impacts to evolutionary cancer biology. We estimated μ directly from
pedigrees in four baleen whale species for both the mitochondrial control
region and nuclear genome. The results suggest values higher than those
obtained through phylogeny-based estimates and similar to pedigree-based
values for primates and toothed whales. Applying our estimate of μ reduces
previous genetic-based estimates of preexploitation whale abundance by 86%
and suggests that μ cannot explain low cancer rates in gigantic mammals.
Our study shows that it is feasible to estimate μ directly from pedigrees
in natural populations, with wide-ranging implications for ecological and
evolutionary research.

Best,
Marcos

-- 
*Marcos Suárez Menéndez, MSc. *(he/him)
PhD Student | Marine Evolution and Conservation
Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES)
University of Groningen
Zernike Campus, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
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