Population structure of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA variation among South American Burmeister’s porpoises (Phocoena spinipinnis)

Rosa, Sabrina; Milinkovitch, Michel C.; Van Waerebeek, Koen; Berck, Jehanne; Oporto, Jorge; Alfaro-Shigueto, Joanna; Van Bressem, Marie-Françoise; Goodall, Natalie; Cassens, Insa
Conservation Genetics (2005)

Little is known about the biology of Burmeister’s porpoises (Phocoena spinipinnis), a small cetacean species endemic to South American waters. Information on stock structure, however, is urgently needed, as 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…


Natural hybridization between Dall’s porpoises (Phocoenoides dalli) and harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena)

Willis, Pamela M; Crespi, Bernard J; Dill, Lawrence M; Baird, Robin W; Hanson, M Bradley
Can. J. Zool. (2004)

Natural hybridization occurs rarely in mammals compared with other taxonomic groups of animals. Cetaceans appear unique among mammals in exhibiting striking karyological uniformity, which suggests that they have the potential…


Phylogeography, intraspecific structure and sex-biased dispersal of Dall’s porpoise, Phocoenoides dalli , revealed by mitochondrial and microsatellite DNA analyses

Escorza-Treviño, S.; Dizon, A. E.
Molecular Ecology (2000)

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control-region sequences and microsatellite loci length polymorphisms were used to estimate phylogeographical patterns (historical patterns underlying contemporary distribution), intraspecific population structure and gender-biased dispersal of Phocoenoides dalli…


Revision of the taxonomy of finless porpoises (genus Neophocaena): the existence of two species

Jefferson, Thomas A.; Wang, John Y.
Journal of Marine Animals and Their Ecology (2011)

Due to extensive morphological variation and inadequately-sampled or poorly-designed studies, the taxonomy of the finless porpoises (genus Neophocaena) has been controversial for some time. An uneasy stability with the arrangement…


Rise of oceanographic barriers in continuous populations of a cetacean: the genetic structure of harbour porpoises in Old World waters

Fontaine, Michaël C; Baird, Stuart JE; Piry, Sylvain; Ray, Nicolas; Tolley, Krystal A; Duke, Sarah; Birkun, Alexei; Ferreira, Marisa; Jauniaux, Thierry; Llavona, Ángela; Öztürk, Bayram; A Öztürk, Ayaka; Ridoux, Vincent; Rogan, Emer; Sequeira, Marina; Siebert, Ursula; Vikingsson, Gísli A; Bouquegneau, Jean-Marie; Michaux, Johan R
BMC Biology (2007)

Understanding the role of seascape in shaping genetic and demographic population structure is highly challenging for marine pelagic species such as cetaceans for which there is generally little evidence of…