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Hierarchical metapopulation structure in a highly mobile marine predator: the southern Australian coastal bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops cf. australis)

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Abstract

Little is known about the population ecology of the recently described bottlenose dolphin species Tursiops australis. The classification of this species is still under debate, but this putative species is thought to be comprised of small and genetically distinct populations (including sub-populations under increasing anthropogenic threats) and is likely endemic to coastal southern Australia. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region sequences and microsatellite loci were used to assess genetic variation and hierarchical population structure of coastal T. cf. australis across a range of spatial scales and environmental discontinuities between southern Western Australia (WA) and central South Australia (SA). Overall, genetic diversity was similar to that typically found for bottlenose dolphins, although very low mtDNA diversity was found in Gulf St. Vincent (GSV) dolphins. We found historical genetic subdivision and likely differences in colonisation between GSV and Spencer Gulf, outer- and inner-gulf locations, and SA/WA and previously identified Victorian/Tasmanian populations. A hierarchical metapopulation structure was revealed along southern Australia, with at least six genetic populations occurring between Esperance, WA and southern Tasmania. In addition, fine-scale genetic subdivision was observed within each SA/WA population. In general, contemporary migration was limited throughout southern Australia, but an important gene flow pathway was identified eastward along the Great Australian Bight. Management strategies that promote gene flow among populations should be implemented to assist with the maintenance of the inferred metapopulation structure. Further research into the population ecology of this species is needed to facilitate well-informed management decisions.

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Acknowledgements

Flinders University, the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR), ANZ, Equity Trustees (Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment), the Nature Foundation of South Australia, the Field Naturalists Society of South Australia, and the Biological Society of South Australia provided monetary contributions to this project, and those of PhD students, Nikki Zanardo (Adelaide metropolitan coast) and Fernando Diaz-Aguirre (Coffin Bay). This study was also partially funded by the Australian Research Council (DP110101275 to Luciano Beheregaray, Luciana Möller and Jonathan Waters, and FT130101068 to Luciano Beheregaray). Fieldwork was conducted with Ministerial Exemption from Primary Industries Resources South Australia (PIRSA), exemptions #9902648, #9902714 and #9902601, with permits #K25761-6 and #E26171 from the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR), South Australia, and with permit from the Department of Environment and Conservation, WA (#SF008961). Animal ethics approvals were acquired from the Flinders University Animal Welfare Committee, projects #E310, #E375 and #E326. The present article is publication #65 of the Molecular Ecology Group for Marine Research (MEGMAR).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular Ecology Laboratory, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, 5042, Australia

    Eleanor A. L. Pratt, Luciano B. Beheregaray, Kerstin Bilgmann, Nikki Zanardo, Fernando Diaz-Aguirre & Luciana M. Möller

  2. Cetacean Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution Laboratory, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, 5042, Australia

    Eleanor A. L. Pratt, Kerstin Bilgmann, Nikki Zanardo, Fernando Diaz-Aguirre & Luciana M. Möller

  3. Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia

    Kerstin Bilgmann

Authors
  1. Eleanor A. L. Pratt
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  2. Luciano B. Beheregaray
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  3. Kerstin Bilgmann
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  4. Nikki Zanardo
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  5. Fernando Diaz-Aguirre
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  6. Luciana M. Möller
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Luciana M. Möller.

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Pratt, E.A.L., Beheregaray, L.B., Bilgmann, K. et al. Hierarchical metapopulation structure in a highly mobile marine predator: the southern Australian coastal bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops cf. australis). Conserv Genet 19, 637–654 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-017-1043-6

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