@article{63a4c3ee76094f058097206b24cd47cf,
title = "Is MHC diversity a better marker for conservation than neutral genetic diversity? A case study of two contrasting dolphin populations",
abstract = "Genetic diversity is essential for populations to adapt to changing environments. Measures of genetic diversity are often based on selectively neutral markers, such as microsatellites. Genetic diversity to guide conservation management, however, is better reflected by adaptive markers, including genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Our aim was to assess MHC and neutral genetic diversity in two contrasting bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) populations in Western Australia—one apparently viable population with high reproductive output (Shark Bay) and one with lower reproductive output that was forecast to decline (Bunbury). We assessed genetic variation in the two populations by sequencing the MHC class II DQB, which encompasses the functionally important peptide binding regions (PBR). Neutral genetic diversity was assessed by genotyping twenty-three microsatellite loci. We confirmed that MHC is an adaptive marker in both populations. Overall, the Shark Bay population exhibited greater MHC diversity than the Bunbury population—for example, it displayed greater MHC nucleotide diversity. In contrast, the difference in microsatellite diversity between the two populations was comparatively low. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that viable populations typically display greater genetic diversity than less viable populations. The results also suggest that MHC variation is more closely associated with population viability than neutral genetic variation. Although the inferences from our findings are limited, because we only compared two populations, our results add to a growing number of studies that highlight the usefulness of MHC as a potentially suitable genetic marker for animal conservation. The Shark Bay population, which carries greater adaptive genetic diversity than the Bunbury population, is thus likely more robust to natural or human-induced changes to the coastal ecosystem it inhabits.",
keywords = "adaptive genetic variation, bottlenose dolphin, cetacean, conservation genetics, major histocompatibility complex, microsatellites",
author = "Oliver Manlik and Michael Kr{\"u}tzen and Kopps, {Anna M.} and Janet Mann and Lars Bejder and Allen, {Simon J.} and Celine Fr{\`e}re and Connor, {Richard C.} and Sherwin, {William B.}",
note = "Funding Information: The Sea World Research and Rescue Foundation Inc. (#RG104136) primarily funded this work. Additional funding came from the WV Scott Foundation. Data were accumulated over many studies, funding sources including NSF (#0918308, 0941487, 1559380, USA), NSERC (Canada), National Geographic Society, PADI Foundation, ARC (Australia), Shark Bay Shire, and in-kind support from Monkey Mia Resort, Shark Bay Resources, tour operators, the Shark Bay and Bunbury communities, volunteers and the Australian Coast Radio Monitors WA Inc. Data collection in Bunbury were facilitated through the South West Marine Research Program and its partners: Bemax Cable Sands, Bunbury Dolphin Discovery Centre, Bunbury Port Authority, City of Bunbury, Cristal Global, WA Department of Parks and Wildlife, Iluka, Millard Marine, Naturaliste Charters, South West Development Commission, WA Plantation Resources and Worsley Alumina. The Shark Bay Dolphin Research Project, the Dolphin Innovation Project and the Dolphin Alliance Project (Shark Bay Dolphin Research Alliance) provided Shark Bay data. This paper represents HIMB and SOEST contribution numbers 1756 and 10700, respectively. We thank D McElligott for sample collection, as well as V Foroughirad, E Krzyszczyk, H Raudino, K Sprogis, S Wild and S Wittwer for checking demographic parameters of dolphins in the databases. We thank CS Baker and anonymous reviewers for valuable comments. Also, thanks to Ewa Krzyszczyk, who allowed us to use her photograph of bottlenose dolphins in Shark Bay (Figure). Funding Information: WV Scott Foundation; National Science Foundation, Grant/Award Number: 0918308, 0941487 and 1559380; Sea World Research and Rescue Foundation, Grant/ Award Number: RM09107; NSERC; National Geographic Society; PADI Foundation; Australian Research Council; Shark Bay Shire; United Arab Emirates University Funding Information: The Sea World Research and Rescue Foundation Inc. (#RG104136) primarily funded this work. Additional funding came from the WV Scott Foundation. Data were accumulated over many studies, fund‐ ing sources including NSF (#0918308, 0941487, 1559380, USA), NSERC (Canada), National Geographic Society, PADI Foundation, ARC (Australia), Shark Bay Shire, and in‐kind support from Monkey Mia Resort, Shark Bay Resources, tour operators, the Shark Bay and Bunbury communities, volunteers and the Australian Coast Radio Monitors WA Inc. Data collection in Bunbury were facilitated through the South West Marine Research Program and its partners: Bemax Cable Sands, Bunbury Dolphin Discovery Centre, Bunbury Port Authority, City of Bunbury, Cristal Global, WA Department of Parks and Wildlife, Iluka, Millard Marine, Naturaliste Charters, South West Development Commission, WA Plantation Resources and Worsley Alumina. The Shark Bay Dolphin Research Project, the Dolphin Innovation Project and the Dolphin Alliance Project (Shark Bay Dolphin Research Alliance) provided Shark Bay data. This paper represents HIMB and SOEST contribution numbers 1756 and 10700, respectively. We thank D McElligott for sample collec‐ tion, as well as V Foroughirad, E Krzyszczyk, H Raudino, K Sprogis, S Wild and S Wittwer for checking demographic parameters of dol‐ phins in the databases. We thank CS Baker and anonymous review‐ ers for valuable comments. Also, thanks to Ewa Krzyszczyk, who allowed us to use her photograph of bottlenose dolphins in Shark Bay (Figure 1). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019 The Authors. Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.",
year = "2019",
month = jun,
doi = "10.1002/ece3.5265",
language = "English",
volume = "9",
pages = "6986--6998",
journal = "Ecology and Evolution",
issn = "2045-7758",
publisher = "John Wiley and Sons Ltd",
number = "12",
}