Saving the Vaquita: Immediate action, not more data

JARAMILLO-LEGORRETA, ARMANDO; ROJAS-BRACHO, LORENZO; BROWNELL, ROBERT L.; READ, ANDREW J.; REEVES, RANDALL R.; RALLS, KATHERINE; TAYLOR, BARBARA L.
Conservation Biology (2007)

The recent likely extinction of the baiji (Chinese river dolphin [Lipotes vexillifer]) (Turvey et al. 2007) makes the vaquita (Gulf of California porpoise [Phocoena sinus]) the most endangered cetacean. The…


Genetic drift vs. natural selection in a long-term small isolated population: major histocompatibility complex class II variation in the Gulf of California endemic porpoise (Phocoena sinus)

MUNGUIA-VEGA, ADRIAN; ESQUER-GARRIGOS, YARELI; ROJAS-BRACHO, LORENZO; VAZQUEZ-JUAREZ, RICARDO; CASTRO-PRIETO, AINES; FLORES-RAMIREZ, SERGIO
Molecular Ecology (2007)

Although many studies confirm long-term small isolated populations (e.g. island endemics) commonly sustain low neutral genetic variation as a result of genetic drift, it is less clear how selection on…


The phylogenetic relationships and biogeography of true porpoises (Mammalia: Phocoenidae) based on morphological data

Fajardo-Mellor, Liliana; Berta, Annalisa; Brownell, Robert L.; Boy, Claudia C.; Goodall, R. Natalie P.
Marine Mammal Sci (2006)

Prior studies of phylogenetic relationships among phocoenids based on morphology and molecular sequence data conflict and yield unresolved relationships among species. This study evaluates a comprehensive set of cranial, postcranial,…


Conservation of the vaquita Phocoena sinus

LORENZO ROJAS-BRACHO; RANDALL R. REEVES; ARMANDO JARAMILLO-LEGORRETA
Mammal Review (2006)

The vaquita Phocoena sinus is a small porpoise that is endemic to the northern Gulf of California, Mexico. It is the most critically endangered marine small cetacean in the world.…