Distribution and population structure of North Atlantic harbour seals (Phoca vitulina)

Autor: Liselotte Andersen, Morton Tange Olsen
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2010
Předmět:
Zdroj: NAMMCO Scientific Publications, Vol 8, Iss 0, Pp 15-35 (2010)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1560-2206
2309-2491
DOI: 10.7557/3.2669
Popis: A review of the known geographical distribution and current knowledge on the genetic population structure of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in the North Atlantic is presented. Based on a synthesis of the results fromfive different studies of neutral geneticmarkers (mtDNAand nuclear microsatellites, mainly) twelve genetically distinct populations were identified in the North Atlantic: USA/Canada, Iceland, west coast of Norway, Ireland-Scotland, English east coast, Channel area, Wadden Sea, Limfjord, Skagerrak, Kattegat, West Baltic, and East Baltic. Most of the studies addressed the population structure at the regional level, while only a few addressed the structuring at a local level, i.e. within countries. Due to the limited number of studies conducted, the identified population units were considered preliminary andmore detailed, local studieswould probably reveal structuring on a finer scale. The choice of genetic markers, their properties, resolution in time and applicability in population structure studies is shortly discussed and compared to ecological methods used to delineate populations.
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