title: Forensic genomics as a novel tool for identifying the causes of mass mortality events.
abstract: Toxic spills, hypoxia, disease outbreaks and toxin-producing algal blooms are all possible causes of mass mortality events, but in many cases it can be difficult to pinpoint the cause of death. Here we present a new approach that we name 'forensic genomics', combining field surveys, toxin testing and genomic scans. Forensic genomics queries allele frequencies of surviving animals for signatures of agents causing mass mortality and, where genetic diversity is high, is uniquely suited to identify natural selection in action. As a proof of concept, we use this approach to investigate the causes of an invertebrate mass mortality event, and its genetic effects on an abalone population. Our results support that a harmful algal bloom producing a yessotoxin was a major causative agent to the event.
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, 120 Ocean View Boulevard, Pacific Grove, California 93950, USA [2] Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, The Sven Lovén Centre for Marine Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Kristineberg 566, 45178 Fiskebäckskil, Sweden.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Wit
authors.affiliation: California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Bodega Marine Laboratory, University of California Davis, Bodega Bay, California 94923, USA.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rogers-Bennett
authors.affiliation: Ocean Sciences Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, California 95064, USA.
authors.forename: Raphael M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Kudela
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, 120 Ocean View Boulevard, Pacific Grove, California 93950, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Palumbi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004463:Ecology; D053803:Forensic Genetics; D049851:Gastropoda / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D005787:Gene Frequency; D014644:Genetic Variation; D023281:Genomics; D057097:Harmful Algal Bloom; D008978:Mollusk Venoms; D035964:Oxocins / Q000633:toxicity*; D012641:Selection, Genetic
chemical_list: D008978:Mollusk Venoms; D035964:Oxocins; C066632:yessotoxin