The genomic footprint of whaling and isolation in fin whale populations

Sergio F. Nigenda-Morales (), Meixi Lin (), Paulina G. Nuñez-Valencia, Christopher C. Kyriazis, Annabel C. Beichman, Jacqueline A. Robinson, Aaron P. Ragsdale, Jorge Urbán R., Frederick I. Archer, Lorena Viloria-Gómora, María José Pérez-Álvarez, Elie Poulin, Kirk E. Lohmueller (), Andrés Moreno-Estrada () and Robert K. Wayne
Additional contact information
Sergio F. Nigenda-Morales: Center for Research and Advanced Studies (Cinvestav), Irapuato
Meixi Lin: University of California, Los Angeles
Paulina G. Nuñez-Valencia: Center for Research and Advanced Studies (Cinvestav), Irapuato
Christopher C. Kyriazis: University of California, Los Angeles
Annabel C. Beichman: University of Washington
Jacqueline A. Robinson: University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)
Aaron P. Ragsdale: Center for Research and Advanced Studies (Cinvestav), Irapuato
Jorge Urbán R.: Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur (UABCS)
Frederick I. Archer: Southwest Fisheries Science Center
Lorena Viloria-Gómora: Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur (UABCS)
María José Pérez-Álvarez: Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Mayor
Elie Poulin: Universidad de Chile
Kirk E. Lohmueller: University of California, Los Angeles
Andrés Moreno-Estrada: Center for Research and Advanced Studies (Cinvestav), Irapuato
Robert K. Wayne: University of California, Los Angeles

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-18

Abstract: Abstract Twentieth century industrial whaling pushed several species to the brink of extinction, with fin whales being the most impacted. However, a small, resident population in the Gulf of California was not targeted by whaling. Here, we analyzed 50 whole-genomes from the Eastern North Pacific (ENP) and Gulf of California (GOC) fin whale populations to investigate their demographic history and the genomic effects of natural and human-induced bottlenecks. We show that the two populations diverged ~16,000 years ago, after which the ENP population expanded and then suffered a 99% reduction in effective size during the whaling period. In contrast, the GOC population remained small and isolated, receiving less than one migrant per generation. However, this low level of migration has been crucial for maintaining its viability. Our study exposes the severity of whaling, emphasizes the importance of migration, and demonstrates the use of genome-based analyses and simulations to inform conservation strategies.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40052-z

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