Genetic Variation and Population Structure: Using the mtDNA Hypervariable Control Region to Study the Eastern and Western Stocks of Steller Sea Lions (Eumetopias jubatus)
| The Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) is a marine mammal that has declined in census size since the 1970’s. Previous studies have shown the various populations to be differentiated into two distinct stocks: the eastern stock and western stock. Migration between stocks is highly constrained, but very low levels of movement have been observed from the western stock into the eastern stock rookeries of southeastern Alaska. Evidence of possible migration of western stock females into slightly more eastern rookery (Rogue Reef in Oregon) of the eastern stock was investigated using genetic markers. Over the course of this summer, DNA samples were extracted from 324 Steller sea lions representing both eastern and western stock rookeries. A 238 bp fragment of the hypervariable control region on the mtDNA was amplified and sequenced for 34 samples from Rogue Reef, 12 samples from Seal Rock, 10 samples from Clubbing Rocks North, and 10 samples from Clubbing Rocks South. Haplotype diversity among theses individuals will be determined and compared to our existing database obtained over the past ten years. |
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