CRB: Genetic Diversity of Endangered Populations of Mysticete Whales: Mitochondrial DNA and Historical Demography

在过去的两百年里， 使神秘鲸濒临灭绝 变化 开发前的人口规模， 开发期间的种群规模和当前种群 大小允许分析不同水平的影响， 不同地理物种开发利用 分布和生活史特征。 Dr. Stephen 夏威夷大学的帕伦比将研究 三种鲸鱼的种群结构， 座头鲸、灰鲸和弓头鲸。 的 人口统计学历史的影响将通过比较 这三个物种的遗传结构。 其他研究 将在座头鲸身上进行 座头鲸有一个 世界范围内分布，但大西洋和太平洋 北方的种群似乎是离散的 南半球的人口也是如此。 海洋. 这些海洋种群中的每一个都可能 再分成更小的分离株，每一个都有自己的迁移性 模式和不同的基因库。 本研究将 提供资料，说明遗传隔离的程度， 人口和水平的基因流动和家谱 人口之间的关系。 这种详细的基因 信息将促进国际决策 关于保护和管理这些宏伟的 哺乳动物

Commercial exploitation over the past two hundred years drove the great Mysticete whales to near extinction. Variation in the sizes of populations prior to exploitation, minimal population size during exploitation and current population sizes permit analyses of the effects of differing levels of exploitation on species with different biogeographical distributions and life-history characteristics. Dr. Stephen Palumbi at the University of Hawaii will study the genetic population structure of three whale species in this context, the Humpback Whale, the Gray Whale and the Bowhead Whale. The effect of demographic history will be determined by comparing the genetic structure of the three species. Additional studies will be carried out on the Humpback Whale. The humpback has a world-wide distribution, but the Atlantic and Pacific populations of the northern hemisphere appear to be discrete populations, as is the population of the southern hemispheric oceans. Each of these oceanic populations may be further subdivided into smaller isolates, each with its own migratory pattern and somewhat distinct gene pool. This study will provide information on the level of genetic isolation among populations and the levels of gene flow and genealogical relationships among populations. This detailed genetic information will facilitate international policy decisions regarding the conservation and management of these magnificent mammals.