ISSN:
1432-1432
Keywords:
Key words: Bottleneck — Genetic diversity — Linkage disequilibrium — Null allele — Bowhead whale
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract. A size-selected Balaena mysticetus genomic library was screened for clones containing simple sequence repeat, or microsatellite, loci. A total of 11 novel loci was identified. These loci were combined with a set of 9 published loci, for a total of 20 markers, and were scored across a sample of 108 bowhead whales from the Bering–Chukchi–Beaufort Seas population of bowhead whales. Genetic variability was measured in terms of polymorphism information content values and unbiased heterozygosity. From the latter, estimates of long-term effective population size were obtained. In addition, gametic phase disequilibrium among loci was investigated. Moderate to high levels of polymorphism were found overall, and the long-term effective size estimates were large relative to total population size. Tests of heterozygosity excess (Cornuet and Luikart 1996) and allele frequency distribution (Luikart et al. 1998) indicated that the possibility of a recent genetic bottleneck in the Bering–Chukchi–Beaufort Seas population of bowhead whales is highly unlikely. However, the fact that five loci displayed a statistically significant heterozygote deficiency remains to be explained.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/PL00006589
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