Range-Wide Genetic Connectivity of the Hawaiian Monk Seal and Implications for Translocation

• Published in: Conservation biology Vol. 25; no. 1; pp. 124 - 132
• Main Authors: SCHULTZ, JENNIFER K., BAKER, JASON D., TOONEN, ROBERT J., HARTING, ALBERT L., BOWEN, BRIAN W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malden, USA Blackwell Publishing Inc 01.02.2011; Wiley-Blackwell
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Bayes Theorem; Biological and medical sciences; conectividad poblacional; Conservation biology; Conservation of Natural Resources - methods; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Ecological genetics; Endangered Species; estructura de la población; Female; Frigates; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Flow; Genetic Loci; Genetic Variation; Hawaii; Male; Mammalia; Marine; Marine ecology; Microsatellite Repeats - genetics; Models, Genetic; Monachus schauinslandi; Parks, reserves, wildlife conservation. Endangered species: population survey and restocking; pinipedio; pinniped; population connectivity; Population genetics; Population structure; Predatory Behavior; Seals; Seals, Earless - genetics; Sharks; Shoals; Starvation - veterinary; stock structure; translocación; translocation; Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution; Water Pollutants - toxicity; Hawaii; Turkey, Izmir, Foca; Translocation; Carnivora; Vertebrata; Mammalia; population connectivity; Population translocation; Genetics; pinniped; Pinnipedia; stock structure; Stock; Environmental protection
• ISSN: 0888-8892; 1523-1739
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2010.01615.x

The Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi) is one of the most critically endangered marine mammals. Less than 1200 individuals remain, and the species is declining at a rate of approximately 4% per year as a result of juvenile starvation, shark predation, and entanglement in marine debris. Some of these problems may be alleviated by translocation; however, if island breeding aggregates are effectively isolated subpopulations, moving individuals may disrupt local adaptations. In these circumstances, managers must balance the pragmatic need of increasing survival with theoretical concerns about genetic viability. To assess range-wide population structure of the Hawaiian monk seal, we examined an unprecedented, near-complete genetic inventory of the species (n = 1897 seals, sampled over 14 years) at 18 microsatellite loci. Genetic variation was not spatially partitioned (θ̂ w = −0.03, p = 1.0), and a Bayesian clustering method provided evidence of one panmictic population (K = 1). Pairwise F ST comparisons (among 7 island aggregates over 14 annual cohorts) did not reveal temporally stable, spatial reproductive isolation. Our results coupled with long-term tag-resight data confirm seal movement and gene flow throughout the Hawaiian Archipelago. Thus, human-mediated translocation of seals among locations is not likely to result in genetic incompatibilities. La foca (Monachus schauinslandi) es una de las especies de mamíferos marinos en mayor peligro crítico. Existen menos de 1200 individuos, y la especie está declinando a una tasa de ∼4% por año como resultado de la inanición juvenil, depredación por tiburones y enmarañamiento en escombro marino. Algunos de esos problemas se pueden aligerar por translocación; sin embargo, si las colonias reproductivas insulares son subpoblaciones aisladas efectivamente, el movimiento de animales puede alterar adaptaciones locales. En estas circunstancias, los manejadores deben balancear la necesidad pragmática de incrementar la supervivencia con preocupaciones teóricas sobre la viabilidad genética. Para evaluar la estructura de la población de M. schauinslandi en toda su área de distribución, examinamos un inventario genético, casi completo y sin precedentes, de la especie (n = 1897 focas, muestreadas a lo largo de 14 años) en 18 loci microsatélite. La variación genética no estaba subdividida espacialmente (θ̂ w = −0.03, p = 1.0), y un método de agrupamiento Bayesiano proporcionó evidencia de una población panmíctica (K = 1). Comparaciones pareadas F ST (entre 7 grupos insulares en 14 cohortes anuales) no reveló aislamiento reproductivo espacial, temporalmente estable. Nuestros resultados, combinados con datos de avistamiento de marcas, confirman el movimiento de individuos y el flujo de genes en el Archipiélago Hawaiano. Por lo tanto, es probable que la translocación de focas por intervención humana no resulte en incompatibilidades genéticas.