Understanding the drivers of genetic diversity in marine top predators and its impact on effective conservation management – a case study of Mediterranean Bottlenose Dolphins

By harnessing the power of modern genetic techniques, it is now possible to examine population connectivity in marine species to a much greater resolution than ever before. In this study we have combined this application with... [ view full abstract ]

By harnessing the power of modern genetic techniques, it is now possible to examine population connectivity in marine species to a much greater resolution than ever before. In this study we have combined this application with examination of stable isotope and oceanographic data to delve deeper into the drivers of genetic diversity in the Bottlenose Dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, in Mediterranean waters with surprising results. With the much greater resolving power of modern genetics we have shown a previously revealed population division is geographically shifted by over 400 miles in some locations. This shift has profound impacts for conservation management, not least as the new boundary lies within the jurisdiction of a previously non-boundary bordering country. Furthermore, knowledge of Bottlenose Dolphin social structure and behaviour combined with stable isotope data from this study reveals differential traits between populations which suggests applying differing conservation strategies may be more effective than treating Mediterranean Bottlenose Dolphins as a single management unit. Drawing from this study this presentation will then argue that the power of modern genetic techniques can provide a valuable starting block for identification of effective marine conservation pathways and should be more widely applied to marine systems and species, even if they have previously been examined using older methodologies.