Indications of two genetically different subpopulations of Atlantic walruses (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) in west and northwest Greenland

Abstract

Analyses of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA in walruses from northwestern Greenland (76°30'-78°30'N; i.e., in the area of the North Water polynya of northern Baffin Bay and Smith Sound) and west-central Greenland ( 67°-68°N) revealed two genetically distinct subpopulations. The studied sample consisted of tissues from 91 Atlantic walruses (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) from northwestern Greenland (1989-1990) and 33 Atlantic walruses from western Greenland (1988-1997). The analyses were based upon 12 nuclear microsatellite loci and restriction length polymorphisms observed in the ND1, ND2, and ND3/4 segments of mtDNA. Evolutionary factors creating the observed genetic differences were mainly drift and gene flow, even though a more pronounced mutational effect was observed at the mitochondrial level. Hence, there appears to be some male-mediated gene flow between the two subpopulations, whereas female-mediated gene flow apparently has been restricted for a considerable time. No temporal variation in population structure was detected in the sample from northwestern Greenland. Females collected in the summer season in this area were shown to be philopatric, meaning that closely related females stay and (or) travel together with a mean relatedness value close to the expected relatedness value for half siblings.