GoTriple - Multiple origins of vagrant Subantarctic fur seals: a long journey to the Brazilian coast detected by molecular markers

authors

Contributors

Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo (USP) ; Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo,

Grupo de Estudos de Mamíferos Aquáticos do Rio (GEMARS) ; Grupo de Estudos de Mamíferos Aquáticos do Rio,

Centro de Estudos Costeiros ; Centro de Estudos Costeiros,

Bioscience North Australia ; Bioscience North Australia,

Department of Zoology and Entomology [Pretoria] ; University of Pretoria [South Africa],

Centre d'études biologiques de Chizé (CEBC) ; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS),

Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul [Porto Alegre] (UFRGS),

Grupo de Estudos de Mamíferos Marinhos da Região dos Lagos [Rio de Janeiro] (GEMM-Lagos) ; Grupo de Estudos de Mamíferos Marinhos-Escola Nacional de Saude Publica Sergio Arouca / Sergio Arouca National School of Public Health [Rio de Janeiro] (ENSP) ; Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ) ; Réseau International des Instituts Pasteur (RIIP)-Réseau International des Instituts Pasteur (RIIP)-Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ) ; Réseau International des Instituts Pasteur (RIIP)-Réseau International des Instituts Pasteur (RIIP),

Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul ((UERGS)) ; Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul

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Publisher

HAL CCSD,

Springer Verlag

Abstract

International audience In this study, we present the Wrst data about putative source populations of the vagrant Subantarctic fur seal, Arctocephalus tropicalis, found on the Brazilian coast, through the comparison of their mitochondrial DNA control sequences to exclusive haplotypes from the main breeding colonies of the species. The results indicated that, despite the majority of the vagrant individuals are from Gough Island (the closest breeding site to the Brazilian coast), they also come from other reproductive colonies, such as Crozet Island, a distance around 16,500 km from the Brazilian coast. Furthermore, the molecular data identiWed three possible management units: (1) Gough, (2) Amsterdam, and (3) Marion, Macquarie and Crozet. This signiWcant genetic subdivision must be taken into account in any future management plan for the species conservation, including rehabilitation and even reintroduction of vagrant fur seals.