The last piece of the puzzle: a broad population genomics study in Globicephala macrorhynchus

34th European Cetacean Society Conference, O Grove, 16-20 April 2023The short-finned pilot whale (SFPW), Globicephala macrorhynchus, has a pan-tropical and -temperate distribution. The existence of two morphologically and genetically distinct forms (Naisa and Shiho) suggests a complex speciation process, which remains to be deciphered. Here, we used whole genome data of 56 individuals from three poorly surveyed regions (Macaronesian islands - Eastern central Atlantic, China and Brazil) to assess the patterns of population structure and genetic diversity of the SFPW. We inferred population structure from admixture and principal component analyses. Additionally, we determined patterns of differentiation of the maternally-inherited mitogenomes. We estimated changes in population size through time using the Pairwise Sequentially Markovian Coalescent (PSMC) analysis. Finally, we searched for genomic regions of high differentiation in each assigned population using the population branch statistics and performed a windows-based analysis to uncover the top outliers of genetic differentiation, corresponding to regions that are potentially under selection. Our results provide evidence for three main genetic clusters of SPFW populations across the analysed individuals, emphasizing the genomic distinctiveness of Atlantic individuals compared with other individuals belonging to the Naisa form – known to be present in the western/central Pacific and Indian Oceans. The exception to this pattern is a Naisa mitochondrial and nuclear genotype found in one individual from Brazil. Moreover, PSMC suggests a shared recent evolutionary history in all three assigned populations. Our study provides a significant contribution to the overall understanding of the demographic history and spatial patterns of genetic diversity in SPFW, by complementing data previously describedN

I Diretriz brasileira de cardio-oncologia pediátrica da Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia

Sociedade Brasileira de Oncologia PediátricaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Instituto de Oncologia Pediátrica GRAACCUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)Universidade de São Paulo Faculdade de Medicina Instituto do Coração do Hospital das ClínicasUniversidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Hospital de Clínicas de Porto AlegreInstituto Materno-Infantil de PernambucoHospital de Base de BrasíliaUniversidade de Pernambuco Hospital Universitário Oswaldo CruzHospital A.C. CamargoHospital do CoraçãoSociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia Departamento de Cardiopatias Congênitas e Cardiologia PediátricaInstituto Nacional de CâncerHospital Pequeno PríncipeSanta Casa de Misericórdia de São PauloInstituto do Câncer do Estado de São PauloUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de PatologiaHospital Infantil Joana de GusmãoUNIFESP, Instituto de Oncologia Pediátrica GRAACCUNIFESP, Depto. de PatologiaSciEL

Effective population size and the genetic consequences of commercial whaling on the humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) from Southwestern Atlantic Ocean

Abstract Genotypes of 10 microsatellite loci of 420 humpback whales from the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean population were used to estimate for the first time its contemporary effective (Ne) and census (Nc) population sizes and to test the genetic effect of commercial whaling. The results are in agreement with our previous studies that found high genetic diversity for this breeding population. Using an approximate Bayesian computation approach, the scenario of constant Ne was significantly supported over scenarios with moderate to strong size changes during the commercial whaling period. The previous generation Nc (Ne multiplied by 3.6), which should corresponds to the years between around 1980 and 1990, was estimated between ~2,600 and 6,800 whales (point estimate ~4,000), and is broadly compatible with the recent abundance surveys extrapolated to the past using a growth rate of 7.4% per annum. The long-term Nc in the constant scenario (point estimate ~15,000) was broadly compatible (considering the confidence interval) with pre-whaling catch records estimates (point estimate ~25,000). Overall, our results shown that the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean humpback whale population is genetically very diverse and resisted well to the strong population reduction during commercial whaling

Effective population size and the genetic consequences of commercial whaling on the humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) from Southwestern Atlantic Ocean

<div><p>Abstract Genotypes of 10 microsatellite loci of 420 humpback whales from the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean population were used to estimate for the first time its contemporary effective (Ne) and census (Nc) population sizes and to test the genetic effect of commercial whaling. The results are in agreement with our previous studies that found high genetic diversity for this breeding population. Using an approximate Bayesian computation approach, the scenario of constant Ne was significantly supported over scenarios with moderate to strong size changes during the commercial whaling period. The previous generation Nc (Ne multiplied by 3.6), which should corresponds to the years between around 1980 and 1990, was estimated between ~2,600 and 6,800 whales (point estimate ~4,000), and is broadly compatible with the recent abundance surveys extrapolated to the past using a growth rate of 7.4% per annum. The long-term Nc in the constant scenario (point estimate ~15,000) was broadly compatible (considering the confidence interval) with pre-whaling catch records estimates (point estimate ~25,000). Overall, our results shown that the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean humpback whale population is genetically very diverse and resisted well to the strong population reduction during commercial whaling.</p></div

Genetic differentiation between humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) from Atlantic and Pacific breeding grounds of South America

Humpback whales wintering in tropical waters along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the South American continent are thought to represent distinct populations or “stocks.” Here we present the first analysis of genetic differentiation and estimates of gene flow between these breeding stocks, based on both mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region sequences (465 bp) and 16 microsatellite loci from samples collected off Brazil (n = 277) and Colombia (n = 148), as well as feeding areas near the western Antarctic Peninsula (n = 86). We found significant differentiation between Brazilian and Colombian breeding grounds at both mtDNA (FST = 0.058) and microsatellite (FST = 0.011) markers and corroborated previous studies showing genetic similarity between humpbacks from Colombia and those from Antarctic Peninsula feeding areas. Estimates of long-term gene flow between Brazil and Colombia were low to moderate, asymmetrical, and mostly mediated by males. Assignment procedures detected some cases of interchange and individuals of admixed ancestry between breeding grounds, indicating limited mixing of individuals between these stocks. Overall, results highlight the differentiation of humpback whale breeding populations with adjacent feeding grounds. This appears to be a remarkable example of fidelity to seasonal habitat in the absence of any contemporary barriersThis work was supported by Coordenac ~ao de Aperfeic oamento de Pessoal de N ıvel Superior (CAPES) to ALC-S; Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient ıfico e Tecnol ogico (CNPq) to SLB; Fundac ~ao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (FAPERGS) to SLB; Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservac ~ao da Biodiversidade/Minist erio do Meio Ambiente (ICMBIO/MMA); and Petr oleo Brasileiro S.A (PETROBRAS). Special support was given by CAPES for the scholarship award to ALC-S to conduct part of her doctoral research as a visiting student at Oregon State University (OSU). Biopsy samples were collected off Brazil under permit SISBIO 21489-1

Diversity of mitochondrial DNA in three species of great whales before and after modern whaling

The 20 th century commercial whaling industry severely reduced populations of great whales throughout the Southern Hemisphere. The effect of this exploitation on genetic diversity and population structure remains largely undescribed. Here, we compare pre- and post-whaling diversity of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region sequences for three great whales in the South Atlantic, the blue, humpback and fin whale. Pre-whaling diversity is described from mtDNA extracted from bones collected near abandoned whaling stations, primarily from the South Atlantic island of South Georgia. These bones are known to represent the first stage of 20 th century whaling and thus pre-whaling diversity of these populations. Post-whaling diversity is described from previously published studies reporting large-scale sampling of living whales in the Southern Hemisphere. Despite relatively high levels of surviving genetic diversity in the post-whaling populations, we found evidence of a probable loss of mtDNA lineages in all three species. This is evidenced by the detection of a large number of haplotypes found in the pre-whaling samples that are not present in the post-whaling samples. A rarefaction analysis further supports a loss of haplotypes in the South Atlantic humpback and Antarctic blue whale populations. The bones from former whaling stations in the South Atlantic represent a remarkable molecular archive for further investigation of the decline and ongoing recovery in the great whales of the Southern Hemisphere

Núcleos de Ensino da Unesp: artigos 2007

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq