Dear MARMAM readers,
We are pleased to announce the publication of the following article in Plos One: Interspecific Hybridization in Pilot Whales and Asymmetric Genetic Introgression in Northern Globicephala melas under the Scenario of Global Warming * Laura Miralles , * Marc Oremus, * Mónica A. Silva, * Serge Planes, * Eva Garcia-Vazquez * * * * * [PLOS] * Published: August 10, 2016 * http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0160080 Abstract Pilot whales are two cetacean species (Globicephala melas and G. macrorhynchus) whose distributions are correlated with water temperature and partially overlap in some areas like the North Atlantic Ocean. In the context of global warming, distribution range shifts are expected to occur in species affected by temperature. Consequently, a northward displacement of the tropical pilot whale G. macrorynchus is expected, eventually leading to increased secondary contact areas and opportunities for interspecific hybridization. Here, we describe genetic evidences of recurrent hybridization between pilot whales in northeast Atlantic Ocean. Based on mitochondrial DNA sequences and microsatellite loci, asymmetric introgression of G. macrorhynchus genes into G. melas was observed. For the latter species, a significant correlation was found between historical population growth rate estimates and paleotemperature oscillations. Introgressive hybridization, current temperature increases and lower genetic variation in G. melas suggest that this species could be at risk in its northern range. Under increasing environmental and human-mediated stressors in the North Atlantic Ocean, it seems recommendable to develop a conservation program for G. melas. http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0160080 Interspecific Hybridization in Pilot Whales and Asymmetric Genetic Introgression in Northern Globicephala melas under the Scenario of Global Warming<http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0160080> journals.plos.org *
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