DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Population Genetics of Black-footed Albatrosses using SNPs: Implications for Regional Differentiation, Mate Choice, and Species Conservation

黑脚信天翁是三种信天翁之一，只在北太平洋繁殖。 在北太平洋渔业中，每年有数千只这种海鸟死亡。 当海鸟在渔业作业中作为非目标渔获物（兼捕）时，必须评估对整个物种的影响。 DNA数据的分析提供了一种有效的手段，以确定殖民地的起源个别兼捕标本，并评估渔业活动的人口水平的影响。 本研究的目的是确定黑脚信天翁的种群参数。 将收集基因数据，以确定种群增长和/或下降的速度、种群之间的迁移水平、配偶选择的基因相关性，以及这些海鸟种群是否由值得特别和单独保护的离散和独特的群体组成。 具体而言，黑脚信天翁DNA中大量可变位点（称为单核苷酸多态性或SNP）的鉴定和分析，以及主要组织相容性复合体（MHC）基因的分析，这些基因被认为在某些物种的配偶选择中发挥作用，将提供上述信息。 DNA数据提供的信息可以促进为受人类活动影响的物种设计有效的管理战略。 这项工作将确定那些海鸟种群受与北太平洋整个范围内作业的渔业相互作用的影响最大。 与国家海洋渔业局和美国鱼类和野生动物管理局等政府机构合作，这些结果将在评估渔业法规方面具有重要应用。 例如，了解哪些群体面临的风险最大，将使管理人员能够积极主动地进行物种养护，从而为关闭的时间和地点提供信息，这已经是一些渔业（如夏威夷的延绳钓渔业）的标准做法。

Black-footed albatrosses are one of three albatross species that breed exclusively in the North Pacific. Mortality of thousands of these seabirds annually has been recorded in North Pacific fisheries. When seabirds are taken as non-target catch (bycatch) in fisheries operations, the impact to the species as a whole must be evaluated. An effective means to determine colony of origin of individual bycatch specimens, and to evaluate the population-level impact of fisheries activities, is provided by the analysis of DNA data. The objectives of this study are to determine population parameters for the Black-footed albatross. Genetic (DNA) data will be collected to determine rates of population growth and/or decline, levels of migration among colonies, genetic correlates of mate choice, and whether or not populations of these seabirds consist of discrete and unique groups that could merit special and separate protection. Specifically, the identification and analysis of a large number of variable sites (named single nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs) in the DNA of Black-footed albatrosses, as well as an analysis of genes of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC), which are thought to play a role in mate choice in some species, will provide the above information. The information provided by DNA data can facilitate the design of efficient management strategies for species that are impacted by human activities. This work will identify those seabird populations that are most affected by interactions with fisheries operating throughout their ranges in the North Pacific Ocean. In collaboration with governmental agencies such as the National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, these results will have important applications in the evaluation of fisheries regulations. For example, knowledge of which colonies are most at risk will allow managers to be proactive about species conservation and thus will inform the timing and location of time and area closures that already are standard practice in some fisheries (such as the Hawaii-based longline fishery).