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Migration of Antarctic minke whales to the Arctic.

ABSTRACT: The Antarctic minke whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis), and the common minke whale found in the North Atlantic (Balaenoptera acutorostrata acutorostrata), undertake synchronized seasonal migrations to feeding areas at their respective poles during spring, and to the tropics in the autumn where they overwinter. Differences in the timing of seasons between hemispheres prevent these species from mixing. Here, based upon analysis of mitochondrial and microsatellite DNA profiles, we report the observation of a single B. bonaerensis in 1996, and a hybrid with maternal contribution from B. bonaerensis in 2007, in the Arctic Northeast Atlantic. Paternal contribution was not conclusively resolved. This is the first documentation of B. bonaerensis north of the tropics, and, the first documentation of hybridization between minke whale species.

SUBMITTER: Glover KA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3008685 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Migration of Antarctic minke whales to the Arctic.

Glover Kevin A KA Kanda Naohisa N Haug Tore T Pastene Luis A LA Oien Nils N Goto Mutsuo M Seliussen Bjørghild B BB Skaug Hans J HJ

PloS one 20101222 12

The Antarctic minke whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis), and the common minke whale found in the North Atlantic (Balaenoptera acutorostrata acutorostrata), undertake synchronized seasonal migrations to feeding areas at their respective poles during spring, and to the tropics in the autumn where they overwinter. Differences in the timing of seasons between hemispheres prevent these species from mixing. Here, based upon analysis of mitochondrial and microsatellite DNA profiles, we report the observat ...[more]

PMID: 21203557

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