Baleen whale microsatellite panel for individual identification and parentage assignment in Mysticeti

Suárez-Menéndez, M. et al. (2024) Baleen whale microsatellite panel for individual identification and parentage assignment in Mysticeti. Global Ecology and Conservation, 51, e02947. (doi: 10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e02947)

Abstract

Highly polymorphic single tandem repeat loci (STR, also known as microsatellite loci) remain a familiar, cost efficient class of genetic markers in genetic studies in ecology, behavior and conservation. Here we characterize a new, universal set of ten STR loci in seven species of baleen whales, optimized for PCR amplification in two multiplex reactions along with a Y chromosome marker for sex determination. The optimized, universal set of STR loci provides a convenient starting point for new genetic studies in baleen whales aimed at identifying individuals and populations. Data from the new STR loci were combined with genotypes from previously published STR loci to assess the power to assign parentage using paternity exclusion in four species: fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), blue whale (B. musculus) and bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus). Our results suggest that parentage studies should always be accompanied by a power analysis in order to ascertain that each individual specific study is based upon data with sufficient power to assign parentage with statistical rigor.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: MSM was supported by a doctorate fellowship from the University of Groningen. PJP and MB were supported by the University of Groningen, University of Copenhagen, University of California Berkeley and Stockholm University. Additional funding was provided by the Aage V. Jensen Foundation (PJP), US National Marine Fisheries Service (PJP and MB), the International Whaling Commission Scientific Committee (MB and PJP), WWF-DK (PJP), the Commission for Scientific Research in Greenland (PJP) and the Greenland Home Rule (PJP). MAS and RP were supported by AZORES 2020, through the EU Fund 01–0145-FEDER-000140.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: ten Doeschate, Mariel and Davison, Mr Nick

Creator Roles

Davison, N.: Resources, Writing – review and editing
ten Doeschate, M.: Resources, Writing – review and editing

• Authors: Suárez-Menéndez, M., Bérubé, M., Bachmann, L., Best, P., Davison, N., Heide-Jørgensen, M. P., Lesage, V., Oosting, T., Prieto, R., Ramp, C., Robbins, J., Sears, R., Silva, M. A., ten Doeschate, M. T.I., Tollis, M., Vermeulen, E., Víkingsson, G. A., Wiig, Ø., and Palsbøll, P. J.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: Global Ecology and Conservation
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 23519894
• ISSN (Online): 2351-9894
• Published Online: 09 April 2024
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2024 The Author(s)
• First Published: First published in Global Ecology and Conservation 51:e02947
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a creative commons licence