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Occurrence and distribution of mitochondrial lineages of gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) in Russian Far Eastern seas

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Abstract

This article presents data on frequencies of mitotypes (control region and cytochrome b and ND2 genes) in groups of Gray Whales found off the Chukotka Peninsula, Koryak coast, eastern Kamchatka and Sakhalin Island. From north to south the number of mitotypes decreased dramatically, but mitotypes which were predominant in the south were the same as ones also abundant in northern samples. For the control region sequences only, our data and data presented in the literature suggest that breeding areas in Baja California may include diversity of both distant groups of mitochondrial lineages known for the species. On the other hand, the same control region sequences may be found in different mitochondrial genomes, and so conclusions based on this mtDNA fragment only may be incorrect.

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Correspondence to I. G. Meschersky.

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Original Russian Text © I.G. Meschersky, M.A. Kuleshova, D.I. Litovka, V.N. Burkanov, R.D. Andrews, G.A. Tsidulko, V.V. Rozhnov, V.Yu. Ilyashenko, 2015, published in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Biologicheskaya, 2015, No. 1, pp. 42–51.

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Meschersky, I.G., Kuleshova, M.A., Litovka, D.I. et al. Occurrence and distribution of mitochondrial lineages of gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) in Russian Far Eastern seas. Biol Bull Russ Acad Sci 42, 34–42 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1062359014060077

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