Genetic analysis of Washington State harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardii) using microsatellites

Abstract

Washington harbor seals ( Phoca vitulina richardii (Gray, 1864)) are currently managed as two stocks: Washington Coastal Stock and Washington Inland Waters Stock. Previous analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in Washington harbor seals showed four geographically and genetically distinct populations. In this study of biparentally inherited nuclear DNA, we analyzed nine microsatellite loci on 482 samples of unweaned pups from nine locations in Washington State and the US–Canadian transboundary waters to determine if there were differences in gene flow between males and females. We found the same four genetically and geographically distinct populations as the analysis of maternally inherited mtDNA: Washington Coast, north Inland Waters, Hood Canal, and south Puget Sound. We recommend that the coastal stock remain as is, but the harbor seals in the Washington Inland Waters should be managed as three distinct populations rather than one.