Phylogenomics of the killer whale indicates ecotype divergence in sympatry

Moura, A.E.; Kenny, J.G.; Chaudhuri, R.; Hughes, M.A.; Reisinger, R.R.; de Bruyn, P.J.N.; Dahlheim, M.E.; Hall, N.; Hoelzel, A.R.

doi:10.1038/hdy.2014.67

Phylogenomics of the killer whale indicates ecotype divergence in sympatry

Moura, A.E.; Kenny, J.G.; Chaudhuri, R.; Hughes, M.A.; Reisinger, R.R.; de Bruyn, P.J.N.; Dahlheim, M.E.; Hall, N.; Hoelzel, A.R.

Authors

A.E. Moura

J.G. Kenny

R. Chaudhuri

M.A. Hughes

R.R. Reisinger

P.J.N. de Bruyn

M.E. Dahlheim

N. Hall

Professor Rus Hoelzel a.r.hoelzel@durham.ac.uk
Professor

Abstract

For many highly mobile species, the marine environment presents few obvious barriers to gene flow. Even so, there is considerable diversity within and among species, referred to by some as the ‘marine speciation paradox’. The recent and diverse radiation of delphinid cetaceans (dolphins) represents a good example of this. Delphinids are capable of extensive dispersion and yet many show fine-scale genetic differentiation among populations. Proposed mechanisms include the division and isolation of populations based on habitat dependence and resource specializations, and habitat release or changing dispersal corridors during glacial cycles. Here we use a phylogenomic approach to investigate the origin of differentiated sympatric populations of killer whales (Orcinus orca). Killer whales show strong specialization on prey choice in populations of stable matrifocal social groups (ecotypes), associated with genetic and phenotypic differentiation. Our data suggest evolution in sympatry among populations of resource specialists.

Citation

Moura, A., Kenny, J., Chaudhuri, R., Hughes, M., Reisinger, R., de Bruyn, P., …Hoelzel, A. (2015). Phylogenomics of the killer whale indicates ecotype divergence in sympatry. Heredity, 114(1), 48-55. https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.2014.67

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	May 30, 2014
Online Publication Date	Jul 23, 2014
Publication Date	Jan 1, 2015
Deposit Date	Jun 9, 2014
Publicly Available Date	Aug 19, 2014
Journal	Heredity
Print ISSN	0018-067X
Electronic ISSN	1365-2540
Publisher	Springer Nature [academic journals on nature.com]
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	114
Issue	1
Pages	48-55
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.2014.67