Using targeted environmental DNA eDNA sampling to generate population-level sequence data for a species frequently detected but rarely sampled in Naval OpAreas: Gervais beaked whale
Abstract
Atypical mass strandings and behavioral responses of beaked whales (family Ziphiidea) associated with naval sonar exercises have raised concerns about the effects of anthropogenic noise on cetaceans and highlighted the vulnerability of this particularly cryptic taxonomic group. Among cetaceans, beaked whales and other deep-diving odontocetes have been identified as particularly vulnerable to the effects of acoustic sources of input in the marine environment. Monitoring wildlife populations to identify potential consequences of environmental changes and anthropogenic activities often requires multiple approaches to identify valuable individual and population level indicators and evaluate the effects of disturbance. These needs, combined with the cryptic nature of some ziphiid species and increased insight into the behavioral ecology of beaked whales, highlights the need for new scientific tools for monitoring temporal trends in population-level effects. Population genetic analyses provide a useful avenue for detecting changes in patterns of gene flow and social organization, but the requisite collection of tissue samples can often be a limiting factor for enigmatic species such as beaked whales. The detection of organisms from genetic material naturally sloughed in their environment (eDNA) has demonstrated success for genetic species identification and holds promise for more individual-based and population level sequence data. The proposed study aims to design speciesspecific genetic assays suitable for use with environmental DNA (eDNA) samples and assess the applicability of these assays for generating population level mitochondrial sequence data for a known populations of Gervais beaked whales (Mesoplodon europaeus). Existing sequence data and archived tissue biopsy samples for this population will expedite assay design. Mitochondrial sequence data generated from both eDNA and tissue biopsies will be integrated into a population genetic framework to quantify genetic differentiation among M. europaeus in neighboring deepwater canyons in the Bahamas. The proposed study provides a unique opportunity for genetic marker development, leveraging information and support from data generated from photographically identified M. europaeus, and provides an invaluable opportunity for evaluating the potential of eDNA assays as novel, low-cost avenues for augmenting ongoing monitoring of the effects of population-level disturbance in long-term studies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 31, 2020
- Source ID
- N000142012569
Entities
People
- Kim Parsons
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy