Mitochondrial Variation of Bottlenose Dolphins (<i>Tursiops truncatus</i>) from the Canary Islands Suggests a Key Population for Conservation with High Connectivity within the North-East Atlantic Ocean
Daniel A. Gómez-Lobo,
Agustín P. Monteoliva,
Antonio Fernandez,
Manuel Arbelo,
Jesús de la Fuente,
Mónica Pérez-Gil,
Nuria Varo-Cruz,
Antonella Servidio,
Enrique Pérez-Gil,
Yaisel J. Borrell,
Laura Miralles
Affiliations
Daniel A. Gómez-Lobo
Department of Functional Biology, University of Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain
Agustín P. Monteoliva
Department of Environmental Genetics, Ecohydros, 39600 Maliaño, Spain
Antonio Fernandez
Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35001 Las Palmas, Spain
Manuel Arbelo
Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35001 Las Palmas, Spain
Jesús de la Fuente
Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35001 Las Palmas, Spain
Mónica Pérez-Gil
Cetaceans and Marine Research Institute of the Canary Islands (CEAMAR), 35509 Las Palmas, Spain
Nuria Varo-Cruz
Cetaceans and Marine Research Institute of the Canary Islands (CEAMAR), 35509 Las Palmas, Spain
Antonella Servidio
Cetaceans and Marine Research Institute of the Canary Islands (CEAMAR), 35509 Las Palmas, Spain
Enrique Pérez-Gil
Cetaceans and Marine Research Institute of the Canary Islands (CEAMAR), 35509 Las Palmas, Spain
Yaisel J. Borrell
Department of Functional Biology, University of Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain
Laura Miralles
Department of Functional Biology, University of Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain
In recent decades, worldwide cetacean species have been protected, but they are still threatened. The bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) is a vulnerable keystone species and a useful bioindicator of the health and balance of marine ecosystems in oceans all over the world. The genetic structure of the species is shaped by their niche specialization (along with other factors), leading to the classification of two ecotypes: coastal and pelagic. In this study, the genetic diversity, population structure, and ecotypes of bottlenose dolphins from the Canary Islands were assessed through the analysis of 49 new samples from biopsies and from stranded animals using the 636 bp portion of the mitochondrial control region and 343 individuals from databases (n = 392). The results reveal high genetic diversity in Canarian bottlenose dolphins (Hd = 0.969 and π = 0.0165) and the apparent lack of population genetic structure within this archipelago. High genetic structure (Fst, Φst) was found between the Canary Islands and coastal populations, while little to no structure was found with the pelagic populations. These results suggest that Canarian bottlenose dolphins are part of pelagic ecotype populations in the North Atlantic. The studied Special Areas of Conservation in the Canary Islands may correspond to a hotspot of genetic diversity of the species and could be a strategic area for the conservation of the oceanic ecotype of bottlenose dolphins.
