Nothing is as it seems: genetic analyses on stranded fin whales unveil the presence of a fin-blue whale hybrid in the Mediterranean Sea (Balaenopteridae)
The fin whale Balaenoptera physalus is a large rorqual species occurring worldwide, mainly in temperate and subpolar zones. In contrast to many baleen whales, not all the fin whale populations show the same model of migration. In fact, migratory behaviours of this latter species range from long seas...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2022-12-01
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| Series: | The European Zoological Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/24750263.2022.2063426 |
| _version_ | 1818015492838785024 |
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| author | T. Fioravanti N. Maio L. Latini A. Splendiani F. M. Guarino M. Mezzasalma A. Petraccioli B. Cozzi S. Mazzariol C. Centelleghe G. Sciancalepore G. Pietroluongo M. Podestà V. Caputo Barucchi |
| author_facet | T. Fioravanti N. Maio L. Latini A. Splendiani F. M. Guarino M. Mezzasalma A. Petraccioli B. Cozzi S. Mazzariol C. Centelleghe G. Sciancalepore G. Pietroluongo M. Podestà V. Caputo Barucchi |
| author_sort | T. Fioravanti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The fin whale Balaenoptera physalus is a large rorqual species occurring worldwide, mainly in temperate and subpolar zones. In contrast to many baleen whales, not all the fin whale populations show the same model of migration. In fact, migratory behaviours of this latter species range from long seasonal migration between high and low latitudes to a complete non-migratory behaviour. A resident fin whale population was described in the Mediterranean Sea, which is also frequented by North Atlantic individuals entering through the Strait of Gibraltar in winter to feed. Between 2020 and 2021 three individuals initially identified as fin whales died along the Tyrrhenian coasts (Mediterranean Sea, Italy). Their mitochondrial DNA control region (mtDNA CR) was analysed and compared to fin whale haplotypes previously described in North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea to identify their geographical origin. Our results show that two individuals most likely belong to the Mediterranean fin whale population, while an individual was recognised as a putative fin-blue whale hybrid (Balaenoptera physalus x Balaenoptera musculus) with a North Atlantic origin. The discovery of the first fin-blue whale hybrid in the Mediterranean Sea was confirmed by the analysis of a biparentally inherited marker, the α-lactalbumin (α-lac) nuclear gene, demonstrating that the morphological analysis alone does not allow to correctly identify hybrids, especially if intermediate characters of both parental species are not clearly distinguishable. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T06:57:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1f3eb4ae5cb744b4a53c976c9ebe1349 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2475-0263 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T06:57:46Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The European Zoological Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-1f3eb4ae5cb744b4a53c976c9ebe13492022-12-22T02:06:50ZengTaylor & Francis GroupThe European Zoological Journal2475-02632022-12-0189159060010.1080/24750263.2022.2063426Nothing is as it seems: genetic analyses on stranded fin whales unveil the presence of a fin-blue whale hybrid in the Mediterranean Sea (Balaenopteridae)T. Fioravanti0N. Maio1L. Latini2A. Splendiani3F. M. Guarino4M. Mezzasalma5A. Petraccioli6B. Cozzi7S. Mazzariol8C. Centelleghe9G. Sciancalepore10G. Pietroluongo11M. Podestà12V. Caputo Barucchi13Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131, Ancona, ItalyDipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Cinthia 26, 80126, Napoli, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131, Ancona, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131, Ancona, ItalyDipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Cinthia 26, 80126, Napoli, ItalyDipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Cinthia 26, 80126, Napoli, ItalyDipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Cinthia 26, 80126, Napoli, ItalyDipartimento di Biomedicina Comparata e Alimentazione, Università degli Studi di Padova, Viale dell’ Università 16, 35020, Legnaro (PD), ItalyDipartimento di Biomedicina Comparata e Alimentazione, Università degli Studi di Padova, Viale dell’ Università 16, 35020, Legnaro (PD), ItalyDipartimento di Biomedicina Comparata e Alimentazione, Università degli Studi di Padova, Viale dell’ Università 16, 35020, Legnaro (PD), ItalyDipartimento di Biomedicina Comparata e Alimentazione, Università degli Studi di Padova, Viale dell’ Università 16, 35020, Legnaro (PD), ItalyDipartimento di Biomedicina Comparata e Alimentazione, Università degli Studi di Padova, Viale dell’ Università 16, 35020, Legnaro (PD), ItalySezione di Zoologia dei Vertebrati, Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano, Corso Venezia 55, 2012, Milano, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131, Ancona, ItalyThe fin whale Balaenoptera physalus is a large rorqual species occurring worldwide, mainly in temperate and subpolar zones. In contrast to many baleen whales, not all the fin whale populations show the same model of migration. In fact, migratory behaviours of this latter species range from long seasonal migration between high and low latitudes to a complete non-migratory behaviour. A resident fin whale population was described in the Mediterranean Sea, which is also frequented by North Atlantic individuals entering through the Strait of Gibraltar in winter to feed. Between 2020 and 2021 three individuals initially identified as fin whales died along the Tyrrhenian coasts (Mediterranean Sea, Italy). Their mitochondrial DNA control region (mtDNA CR) was analysed and compared to fin whale haplotypes previously described in North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea to identify their geographical origin. Our results show that two individuals most likely belong to the Mediterranean fin whale population, while an individual was recognised as a putative fin-blue whale hybrid (Balaenoptera physalus x Balaenoptera musculus) with a North Atlantic origin. The discovery of the first fin-blue whale hybrid in the Mediterranean Sea was confirmed by the analysis of a biparentally inherited marker, the α-lactalbumin (α-lac) nuclear gene, demonstrating that the morphological analysis alone does not allow to correctly identify hybrids, especially if intermediate characters of both parental species are not clearly distinguishable.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/24750263.2022.2063426Fin whaleBalaenopteridaegeneticshybridTyrrhenian Sea |
| spellingShingle | T. Fioravanti N. Maio L. Latini A. Splendiani F. M. Guarino M. Mezzasalma A. Petraccioli B. Cozzi S. Mazzariol C. Centelleghe G. Sciancalepore G. Pietroluongo M. Podestà V. Caputo Barucchi Nothing is as it seems: genetic analyses on stranded fin whales unveil the presence of a fin-blue whale hybrid in the Mediterranean Sea (Balaenopteridae) The European Zoological Journal Fin whale Balaenopteridae genetics hybrid Tyrrhenian Sea |
| title | Nothing is as it seems: genetic analyses on stranded fin whales unveil the presence of a fin-blue whale hybrid in the Mediterranean Sea (Balaenopteridae) |
| title_full | Nothing is as it seems: genetic analyses on stranded fin whales unveil the presence of a fin-blue whale hybrid in the Mediterranean Sea (Balaenopteridae) |
| title_fullStr | Nothing is as it seems: genetic analyses on stranded fin whales unveil the presence of a fin-blue whale hybrid in the Mediterranean Sea (Balaenopteridae) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nothing is as it seems: genetic analyses on stranded fin whales unveil the presence of a fin-blue whale hybrid in the Mediterranean Sea (Balaenopteridae) |
| title_short | Nothing is as it seems: genetic analyses on stranded fin whales unveil the presence of a fin-blue whale hybrid in the Mediterranean Sea (Balaenopteridae) |
| title_sort | nothing is as it seems genetic analyses on stranded fin whales unveil the presence of a fin blue whale hybrid in the mediterranean sea balaenopteridae |
| topic | Fin whale Balaenopteridae genetics hybrid Tyrrhenian Sea |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/24750263.2022.2063426 |
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