title: Cultural traditions across a migratory network shape the genetic structure of southern right whales around Australia and New Zealand.
abstract: Fidelity to migratory destinations is an important driver of connectivity in marine and avian species. Here we assess the role of maternally directed learning of migratory habitats, or migratory culture, on the population structure of the endangered Australian and New Zealand southern right whale. Using DNA profiles, comprising mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotypes (500 bp), microsatellite genotypes (17 loci) and sex from 128 individually-identified whales, we find significant differentiation among winter calving grounds based on both mtDNA haplotype (FST = 0.048, ΦST = 0.109, p < 0.01) and microsatellite allele frequencies (FST = 0.008, p < 0.01), consistent with long-term fidelity to calving areas. However, most genetic comparisons of calving grounds and migratory corridors were not significant, supporting the idea that whales from different calving grounds mix in migratory corridors. Furthermore, we find a significant relationship between δ(13)C stable isotope profiles of 66 Australian southern right whales, a proxy for feeding ground location, and both mtDNA haplotypes and kinship inferred from microsatellite-based estimators of relatedness. This indicates migratory culture may influence genetic structure on feeding grounds. This fidelity to migratory destinations is likely to influence population recovery, as long-term estimates of historical abundance derived from estimates of genetic diversity indicate the South Pacific calving grounds remain at <10% of pre-whaling abundance.
authors.affiliation: Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LB, Scotland.|Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand.|Marine Mammal Institute and Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, Newport, OR 97365, USA.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.affiliation: Department of the Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Barwon South West Region, Warrnambool, VIC 3280, Australia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.affiliation: Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alderman
authors.affiliation: The Western Australian Museum, Locked Bag 49, Welshpool DC, WA 6986, Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bannister
authors.affiliation: Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LB, Scotland.
authors.forename: O E
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Gaggiotti
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth Sciences, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Gröcke
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.|Collégial International Sainte-Anne, Montréal, Québec, QC H8S 2M8, Canada.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Patenaude
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Harcourt
mesh_terms: D025041:Animal Migration; D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005828:Genetics, Population; D006239:Haplotypes; D009520:New Zealand; D014907:Whales / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial