World-wide genetic differentiation of Eubalaena: questioning the number of right whale species

doi:10.1046/j.1365-294x.2000.01066.x

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Wiley InterScience

Molecular Ecology

Volume 9 Issue 11, Pages 1793 - 1802

Published Online: 25 Dec 2001

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World-wide genetic differentiation of Eubalaena: questioning the number of right whale species

H. C. Rosenbaum,*† R. L. Brownell Jr,‡ M. W. Brown,§ C. Schaeff,¶ V. Portway,¶** B. N. White,†† S. Malik,†† L. A. Pastene,‡‡ N. J. Patenaude,§§ C. S. Baker,§§ M. Goto,‡‡ P. B. Best,¶¶ P. J. Clapham,*** P. Hamilton,††† M. Moore,‡‡‡ R. Payne,§§§ V. Rowntree,§§§ C. T. Tynan,¶¶¶ J. L. Bannister**** and R. Desalle*

*Molecular Systematics Laboratory, American Museum of Natural History, 79th Street and CPW, New York, NY 10024, USA, †Wildlife Conservation Society, Science Resource Center, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10460, USA, ‡National Marine Fisheries Service, South-west Fisheries Science Center, Box 271, La Jolla, CA 92038, USA, §Center for Coastal Studies, PO Box 1036, Provincetown, MA, 02657 USA and East Coast Ecosystems, PO Box 36, Freeport, Nova Scotia BOV IBO Canada, ¶Biology Department, American University, 4400 Mass. Ave, N.W. Washington D.C. 20016–8007, USA, **Molecular Genetics Laboratory, National Zoological Park, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C. 20560, USA, ††Biology Department, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4K1, ‡‡The Institute of Cetacean Research, 4–18 Toyomi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104–0055, Japan, §§Ecology and Evolution Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand, ¶¶Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, c/o South African Museum, PO Box 61, Cape Town, 8000 South Africa, ***National Marine Fisheries Service, NEFSC, 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA, †††New England Aquarium, Central Wharf, Boston, MA 02110, USA, ‡‡‡Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA, §§§Whale Conservation Institute, 191 Weston Road Lincoln, MA 01773, USA, ¶¶¶ Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean, University of Washington, c/o National Marine Mammal Laboratory, NOAA, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, Washington 98115, USA, ****c/o The Western Australian Museum, Francis Street, Perth WA 6000, Australia

Correspondence: H.C. Rosenbaum. Fax: 1–212–769–5277; E-mail:hcr@amnh.org

KEYWORDS

cetaceans • conservation • phylogeny • right whales • taxonomy

ABSTRACT

Abstract

Few studies have examined systematic relationships of right whales (Eubalaena spp.) since the original species descriptions, even though they are one of the most endangered large whales. Little morphological evidence exists to support the current species designations for Eubalaena glacialis in the northern hemisphere and E. australis in the southern hemisphere. Differences in migratory behaviour or antitropical distribution between right whales in each hemisphere are considered a barrier to gene flow and maintain the current species distinctions and geographical populations. However, these distinctions between populations have remained controversial and no study has included an analysis of all right whales from the three major ocean basins. To address issues of genetic differentiation and relationships among right whales, we have compiled a database of mitochondrial DNA control region sequences from right whales representing populations in all three ocean basins that consist of: western North Atlantic E. glacialis, multiple geographically distributed populations of E. australis and the first molecular analysis of historical and recent samples of E. glacialis from the western and eastern North Pacific Ocean. Diagnostic characters, as well as phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses, support the possibility that three distinct maternal lineages exist in right whales, with North Pacific E. glacialis being more closely related to E. australis than to North Atlantic E. glacialis. Our genetic results provide unequivocal character support for the two usually recognized species and a third distinct genetic lineage in the North Pacific under the Phylogenetic Species Concept, as well as levels of genetic diversity among right whales world-wide.

Received 30 April 2000; revision received 14 June 2000;accepted 14 June 2000

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This supplement to Molecular Ecology Resources is devoted to showcasing current barcoding work and providing a forum for the discussion of issues dealing with barcoding. The supplement grew out of the second Canadian Barcode of Life Network Scientific Symposium devoted to DNA barcoding, held at the Royal Ontario Museum (Toronto, Canada, 28–29 April 2008).

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