Genetic variation in northeastern Atlantic minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata)

Abstract

Abstract Background: the population structure of North Atlantic minke whales ( Balaenoptera acutorostrata ) was studied in a previous study by Danielsdottir et al. [1] . It was concluded that bigger sample sizes were needed in order to determine if whales from the northeastern Atlantic represent a different population to the West Greenland and Icelandic whales, respectively. Methods: genetic variation within northeastern Atlantic (Norwegian) minke whales was investigated and compared with genetic variation in minke whales from West Greenland and Iceland using isozyme analysis. Results: in the Norwegian minke whale liver samples, 37 enzyme loci were examined, of which eight were found to be polymorphic. The average heterozygosity was 0.060 (SE=0.021). Significant deviations from the Hardy-Weinberg genotypic frequencies were observed at two loci in the liver samples. In gonad samples, 28 enzyme loci were examined and significant deviations from expected frequencies were observed at two loci, which could be due to small sample size of the gonads. Contingency X 2 analysis revealed significant differences in allele frequencies between the Norweggian minke whales and minke whales from West Greenland and Iceland, respectively. Wright's F ST value was 0.111 and the genetic distance was 0.015 between minke whale liver samples from West Greenland and Norway. The F ST value was 0.149 and the genetic distance was 0.028 between minke whale gonad samples from Iceland and Norway. Conclusions: the genetic differences between minke whales from Norway, West Greenland and Iceland indicated that the Norwegian minke phase represent a different breeding population from the West Greenland population and the Icelandic population, respectively.