Population Structure as Revealed by mtDNA and Microsatellites in Northern Fur Seals, Callorhinus ursinus, throughout Their Range
Date
2010-05
Authors
Dickerson, Bobette R.
Ream, Rolf R.
Vignieri, Sacha N.
Bentzen, Paul
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Abstract
Background: The northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus; NFS) is a widely distributed pinniped
that has been shown to exhibit a high degree of philopatry to islands, breeding areas on an island,
and even to specific segments of breeding areas. This level of philopatry could conceivably lead to
highly genetically divergent populations. However, northern fur seals have the potential for
dispersal across large distances and have experienced repeated rapid population expansions following
glacial retreat and the more recent cessation of intensive harvest pressure. Methodology/Principal
Findings: Using microsatellite and mitochondrial loci, we examined population structure in NFS
throughout their range. We found only weak population genetic structure among breeding islands
including significant F(ST) and Phi(ST) values between eastern and western Pacific islands.
Conclusions: We conclude that insufficient time since rapid population expansion events (both post
glacial and following the cessation of intense harvest pressure) mixed with low levels of
contemporary migration have resulted in an absence of genetic structure across the entire northern
fur seal range.
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Citation
Dickerson, Bobette R., Rolf R. Ream, Sacha N. Vignieri, and Paul Bentzen. 2010. "Population Structure as Revealed by mtDNA and Microsatellites in Northern Fur Seals, Callorhinus
ursinus, throughout Their Range." Plos One 5(5): 10671-e10671. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0010671