The first widespread census of the genetic diversity of common dolphin populations living along 3000 km of Australia's southern coastline has raised key pointers for the future.
The study called for more efforts to preserve adaptive DNA diversity and help connect dolphin groups. Long-term gene flow and adaptation will be supported by this.
According to Dr. Barcel, high levels of genomic variation can be an important part of the long-term survival of marine mammals.
"Information about how the environment affects DNA diversity of marine populations can assist with the population management and in forecasting how they may cope with climate change and other anthropogenic impacts."
Enhancing population viability under unfavorable climatic events and promoting long-term genomic variation are some of the things that researchers say can be promoted by maintaining connection.
It's important for managers of our coastal environments to consider the importance of DNA diversity in the event of changes in key environmental conditions such as water temperatures, salinity, and food sources.
Five dolphin populations from Western Australia to Victoria were compared with the key environmental conditions and available fish food supplies by the adaptive divergence.
Common dolphins from sites along the continental shelf break were affected by fluctuations of primary productivity and sea surface temperatures, while dolphins from the southern coast of Western Australia were influenced by local currents.
The differences in the genes of common dolphins from protected coastal habitats and more enclosed embayment areas were related to fluctuations in the environment temperature.
The candidate genes were identified for future comparative studies of common dolphins and other delphinid species that share the same environment around the world.
The article shows adaptive diversity linked to regional and local oceanography.
More information: Andrea Barceló et al, Seascape genomics of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) reveals adaptive diversity linked to regional and local oceanography, BMC Ecology and Evolution (2022). DOI: 10.1186/s12862-022-02038-1 Journal information: BMC Ecology and Evolution
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