Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (54)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Goodman, S. J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Goodman, S. J.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Molecular Biology and Evolution, Vol 15, 104-118, Copyright © 1998 by Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Patterns of extensive genetic differentiation and variation among European harbor seals (Phoca vitulina vitulina) revealed using microsatellite DNA polymorphisms

SJ Goodman
Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, U.K. simon.goodman@ed.ac.uk

The harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) has the most extensive distribution of any phocid seal species. An analysis of population structure in this species across its European range was made using 7 phocid derived microsatellites in a sample of 1,029 individuals from 12 separate geographic areas. Despite the species potential for long-distance movement, significant genetic differentiation between areas was observed using an unbiased estimator of RST. Six distinct population units were identified: Ireland-Scotland, English east coast, Waddensea, western Scandinavia (Norway-Kattegat-Skagerrak-west Baltic), east Baltic, and Iceland. Little local substructuring is present along coastlines with a continuous distribution of breeding animals, but differentiation does increase with geographic distance. The degree of differentiation is greater over equivalent distances where the distribution is discontinuous, such as along coasts where breeding colonies are separated by large distances or by stretches of open sea. Patterns of population differentiation derived from microsatellites are very similar to those obtained from previous mitochondrial DNA analysis and suggest that philopatry in harbor seals operates over 300-500 km. In Europe, harbor seals have experienced a complex demographic history and patterns of population structure are likely to have been affected by natural environmental influences such as Pleistocene glaciations and epizootics. Comparison of Nm values from an unbiased estimator of RST, GST, and theta are consistent and, in some cases, may indicate populations where conditions deviate from the expectations of the RST model.
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J HeredHome page
T. Pastor, J. C. Garza, P. Allen, W. Amos, and A. Aguilar
Low Genetic Variability in the Highly Endangered Mediterranean Monk Seal
J. Hered., July 1, 2004; 95(4): 291 - 300.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 GeneticsHome page
P.-A. Landry, M. T. Koskinen, and C. R. Primmer
Deriving Evolutionary Relationships Among Populations Using Microsatellites and ({delta}{micro})2: All Loci Are Equal, but Some Are More Equal Than Others ...
Genetics, July 1, 2002; 161(3): 1339 - 1347.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.