A piece of the puzzle: analyses of recent strandings and historical records reveal new genetic and ecological insights on New Zealand sperm whales

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dc.citation.volume690
dc.contributor.authorPalmer E
dc.contributor.authorAlexander A
dc.contributor.authorLiggins L
dc.contributor.authorGuerra M
dc.contributor.authorBury SJ
dc.contributor.authorHendriks H
dc.contributor.authorStockin KA
dc.contributor.authorPeters KJ
dc.date.available1/01/2022
dc.date.issued1/01/2022
dc.description.abstractCetacean strandings provide important opportunities to extend current knowledge on species or populations, particularly for species that are notoriously difficult to study, such as sperm whales Physeter macrocephalus (parāoa). Between 25 May and 9 June 2018, 13 male sperm whales stranded in Taranaki, New Zealand (NZ), with an additional male stranding 1 mo later in Clifford Bay, Marlborough. We profiled these 14 males for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes to examine their similarity to sperm whales from other geographic areas. Analyses of mtDNA revealed 7 haplotypes, including 1 not previously described (‘New’), and an additional haplotype (‘M’) new to NZ that had been previously reported in sperm whales of the Pacific region. Analysis of rare haplotypes found in NZ males suggested genetic links within NZ and the Southwest Pacific. Differences in stable isotope ratios indicated that, despite the close temporal proximity of these stranding events, individuals originated from at least 2 separate groups, with the whale stranded in Clifford Bay identified as being a regular visitor to Kaikōura, South Island. The analysis of stranding records in NZ dating back to 1873 indicated an increase in recorded single strandings since 1970, and a peak in single strandings in the austral summer months, but no seasonality for mass strandings. Sex predicted latitudinal location for single strandings, with 95.1% of female strandings occurring north of 42° S, fitting the general global distribution of female sperm whales limited to lower latitudes. This study provides the first temporal and spatial assessment of sperm whale strandings in NZ and highlights the need for future research on movements and genetic exchange between NZ sperm whales and sperm whales in the wider Pacific region.
dc.description.publication-statusPublished
dc.format.extent201 - 217
dc.identifier.citationMarine Ecology Progress Series, 2022, 690 pp. 201 - 217
dc.identifier.doi10.3354/meps14051
dc.identifier.eissn1616-1599
dc.identifier.elements-id454155
dc.identifier.harvestedMassey_Dark
dc.identifier.issn0171-8630
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10179/17415
dc.relation.isPartOfMarine Ecology Progress Series
dc.subject.anzsrc0405 Oceanography
dc.subject.anzsrc0602 Ecology
dc.subject.anzsrc0608 Zoology
dc.titleA piece of the puzzle: analyses of recent strandings and historical records reveal new genetic and ecological insights on New Zealand sperm whales
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.notesNot known
pubs.organisational-group/Massey University
pubs.organisational-group/Massey University/College of Sciences
pubs.organisational-group/Massey University/College of Sciences/School of Natural Sciences
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