Interspecific Hybridization in Pilot Whales and Asymmetric Genetic Introgression in Northern Globicephala melas under the Scenario of Global Warming
Type | Article | ||||||||||||||||
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Date | 2016-08 | ||||||||||||||||
Language | English | ||||||||||||||||
Author(s) | Miralles Laura1, Oremus Marc2, Silva Monica A.3, 4, Planes Serge5, Garcia-Vazquez Eva1 | ||||||||||||||||
Affiliation(s) | 1 : Univ Oviedo, Dept Funct Biol, E-33006 Oviedo, Spain. 2 : 16 Rue Henri Niautou, Noumea 98800, New Caledonia. 3 : Univ Azores, MARE Marine & Environm Sci Ctr, P-9901862 Horta, Portugal. 4 : Woods Hole Oceanog Inst, Dept Biol, Woods Hole, MA 02543 USA. 5 : Ctr Rech Insulaire & Observ Environm, Lab Excellence CORAIL, USR 3278, CNRS,EPHE,UPVD, BP 1013 Papetoai, Moorea 98729, Fr Polynesia. |
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Source | Plos One (1932-6203) (Public Library Science), 2016-08 , Vol. 11 , N. 8 , P. e160080 (15p) | ||||||||||||||||
DOI | 10.1371/journal.pone.0160080 | ||||||||||||||||
WOS© Times Cited | 10 | ||||||||||||||||
Abstract | Pilot whales are two cetacean species (Globicephala melas and G. macrorhynchus) whose distributions are correlated with water temperature and partially overlap in some areas like the North Atlantic Ocean. In the context of global warming, distribution range shifts are expected to occur in species affected by temperature. Consequently, a northward displacement of the tropical pilot whale G. macrorynchus is expected, eventually leading to increased secondary contact areas and opportunities for interspecific hybridization. Here, we describe genetic evidences of recurrent hybridization between pilot whales in northeast Atlantic Ocean. Based on mitochondrial DNA sequences and microsatellite loci, asymmetric introgression of G. macrorhynchus genes into G. melas was observed. For the latter species, a significant correlation was found between historical population growth rate estimates and paleotemperature oscillations. Introgressive hybridization, current temperature increases and lower genetic variation in G. melas suggest that this species could be at risk in its northern range. Under increasing environmental and human-mediated stressors in the North Atlantic Ocean, it seems recommendable to develop a conservation program for G. melas. |
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