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Fine-scale population structure of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in offshore and coastal waters of the US Gulf of Mexico

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Abstract

Patterns of dispersal and population structure of highly mobile marine fauna in the open ocean are not well understood. Much insight, however, can be gained from using common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), one of the most abundant marine mammals in the northern Gulf of Mexico (GOMx), as a model to better understand these aspects of the marine realm. Populations of common bottlenose dolphins in estuarine environments show evidence of strong population structure; however, whether this species similarly partitions the open ocean to the point that genetically differentiated populations are present is unknown. Such information is essential to accurately assess natural and anthropogenic impacts and is crucial for effective conservation and management. We used mitochondrial DNA control region sequence data, 19 microsatellite and 39 single nucleotide polymorphism loci to identify population structure of T. truncatus in coastal and offshore waters of the northern GOMx. Bayesian clustering and a multivariate method of discriminant analysis identified seven genetically distinct populations and levels of genetic differentiation were in line with other recognized populations of T. truncatus. The newly identified populations do not correspond to the currently delineated management stocks, suggesting revision may be necessary to establish accurate representation and effective management of the existing biological populations of T. truncatus in these waters. The finding of significant population structure in dolphins living in open-ocean waters augments the growing body of evidence indicating pelagic waters are not homogeneous even for highly mobile species.

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Acknowledgements

We sincerely thank all who collected and donated samples for this project including A. Martinez, J. Wicker (NMFS Miami, FL), W. McFee (NOS Charleston, SC), B. Griffin (Mote Marine Lab), L. Klatsky (Dolphin Quest Inc.), R. Wells (Chicago Zoological Society/Mote Marine Lab), K. Barry, W. Hoggard, K. Mullin, C. Sinclair (NMFS Pascagoula, MS) and H. Whitehead (TMMSN), and all who responded to the 2007 and 2008 mortality events in Texas and Louisiana. We would also like to thank P. Beerli (MIGRATE) and M. Stephens (PHASE) for analytical and programming help. We are especially grateful to the past and present lab mates including R. Cota, A. Sellas, A. Viricel, D. Weisbaum and L. Wilcox. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette Graduate Student Organization and Sigma-Xi Grants-in-Aid of Research provided funding toward this project. All or portions of the laboratory and/or computer work were conducted in and with the support of the L.A.B. facilities of the National Museum of Natural History or its partner laboratories. Biopsy effort was conducted under NMFS MMPA permits 779-1339-00, 779-1633-00 and 775-1600-10.

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  1. Department of Biology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, P.O. Box 42451, Lafayette, LA, 70504, USA

    Nicole L. Vollmer

  2. NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, 646 Cajundome Blvd., Lafayette, LA, 70506, USA

    Nicole L. Vollmer & Patricia E. Rosel

  3. NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Systematics Laboratory, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, MRC-153, P.O. Box 37012, Washington, DC, 20013-7012, USA

    Nicole L. Vollmer

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Vollmer, N.L., Rosel, P.E. Fine-scale population structure of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in offshore and coastal waters of the US Gulf of Mexico. Mar Biol 164, 160 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-017-3186-x

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