Multiple origins of vagrant Subantarctic fur seals : a long journey to the Brazilian coast detected by molecular markers

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Date

Authors

Ferreira, Juliana Machado
De Oliveira, Larissa Rosa
Wynen, Louise
Bester, Marthan Nieuwoudt
Guinet, Christophe
Moraes-Barros, Nadia
Martins, Felipe Mello
Muelbert, Monica M.C.
Moreno, Ignacio B.
Siciliano, Salvatore

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Springer

Abstract

In this study, we present the first data about putative source populations of the vagrant Subantarctic fur seal, Arctocephalus tropicalis, found on the Brazilian coast, through the comparison of their mitochondrial DNA control sequences to exclusive haplotypes from the main breeding colonies of the species. The results indicated that, despite the majority of the vagrant individuals are from Gough Island (the closest breeding site to the Brazilian coast), they also come from other reproductive colonies, such as Crozet Island, a distance around 16,500 km from the Brazilian coast. Furthermore, the molecular data identified three possible management units: (1) Gough, (2) Amsterdam, and (3) Marion, Macquarie and Crozet. This significant genetic subdivision must be taken into account in any future management plan for the species conservation, including rehabilitation and even reintroduction of vagrant fur seals.

Description

Keywords

Vagrants, Arctocephalus tropicalis, Brazilian coast, mtDNA

Sustainable Development Goals

Citation

Ferreira, JM, De Oliveira, LR, Wynen, L, Bester, MN, Guinet, C, Moraes–Barros, N, Martins, FM, Muelbert, MMC, Moreno, IB, Siciliano, S, Ott, PH & Morgante, JS 2008, 'Multiple origins of vagrant Subantarctic fur seals : a long journey to the Brazilian coast detected by molecular markers', Polar Biology, vol. 31, no. 3, pp. 303-308. [http://www.springer.com/life+sci/ecology/journal/300]