Conservation genetics of harbour porpoises, Phocoena phocoena, in eastern and central North Atlantic

We examined polymorphism at 12 microsatelliteloci in 807 harbour porpoises , Phocoenaphocoena, collected from throughout thecentral and eastern North Atlantic to theBaltic Sea. Multilocus tests for allelefrequency differences, assignment tests,population structure estimates (F_ST) andgenetic distance measures (D_LR andD_C) all indicate six geneticallydifferentiated populations/sub-populationsafter pooling sub-samples within regions.Harbour porpoises from West Greenland, theNorwegian Westcoast, Ireland, the British NorthSea, the Danish North Sea and the inland watersof Denmark (IDW) are all geneticallydistinguishable from each other. A sample ofharbour porpoises collected off the Dutch coast(mainly during winter) was geneticallyheterogeneous and likely comprised a mixture ofindividuals of diverse origin. A mixed stockanalysis indicated that most of the individualsin this sample (77%) were likely migrantsfrom the British and Danish North Sea.     

Wing design and morphology of the harbor porpoise dorsal fin

The correlation between skin structure and hydrodynamic design of the dorsal fin of the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) was examined. For the study of fin morphology and geometry, a scheme of sampling representing a two-parameter mesh on the fin surface was used. At each data point the thickness of the epidermis, papillary and subpapillary layers of the dermis, the ligamentous layer of the fin, as well as the angle formed by the direction of dermal ridges and the fin root chord were measured. On the basis of fin cross-sections the three-dimensional surface models of the fin in a 1 : 1 scale were created with a CAD program. The shape of the model was evaluated by the wing and hydrofoil parameters (angle of leading edge sweep, leading edge radius, maximum thickness of the fin cross-section, and position of maximum thickness from the leading edge). Hydrodynamic performance of the fin cross-sections was studied with a CFD program. Regional variability of the parameters of morphology was compared with spanwise variability of the parameters of cross-sectional geometry. It was found that skin structure parameters correlate with the hydrodynamically relevant parameters of the fin and fin cross-sections. Regularities of skin structure of the harbor porpoise dorsal fin are considered indirect evidence of the adaptation of porpoise skin to the fin flow.     

Linking sandeel consumption and the likelihood of starvation in harbour porpoises in the Scottish North Sea: could climate change mean more starving porpoises?

Sandeels are known to be negatively affected by climate change in a number of ways. This study investigated whether these changes are affecting the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), a species which consumes sandeels. Porpoise diet was examined in spring (March-May), a critical time of year for survival when sandeels are important prey, from 1993 to 2001 to provide baseline information on the proportion of sandeels consumed. When data from spring 2002 and 2003 were compared to these baseline data, the diet was found to be substantially different, with a significant and substantially smaller proportion of sandeels being consumed in March and May. There were also differences in the number of porpoises starving between the two time periods (33% in spring 2002 and 2003 died of starvation, but only 5% in the baseline period). This suggests that a lower proportion of sandeels in the diet of porpoises in spring increases the likelihood of starvation. Therefore, we suggest that the negative effects of climate change on sandeel availability may have serious negative effects on harbour porpoise populations in the North Sea by increasing the likelihood of starvation in spring.     

Abundance decline in the narrow-ridged finless porpoise population off the Pacific coast of eastern Japan

The narrow-ridged finless porpoise Neophocaena asiaeorientalis is a small-toothed whale with a coastal habitat and is sensitive to human activity. Aerial sighting surveys were conducted in 2012 to evaluate the abundance and distribution of the Sendai Bay-Tokyo Bay population off the Pacific coast of eastern Japan. We flew along 35 east–west transects at intervals of 11.6 km over the study area between 34°57′ and 38°21’ N. In total, 25 groups were detected by two observers. The mean group size was 1.44 individuals. Porpoise abundance was estimated to be 1,491 individuals (coefficient of variation = 32.4%), which was lower than the abundance estimated in 2000 (z test, p < 0.05). A population decline trend during 2000–2012 was also detected using four available abundance estimates (Bootstrapping linear regression, p = 0.040). A possible cause of this decline was coastal habitat disturbance and deaths by tsunami waves caused by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Density was as low as 0.221 individuals/km², which is among the lowest levels in Japanese waters. Furthermore, distributional gaps reconfirmed by the present study and past genetic studies show that the population should be divided into at least two populations: northern (“Sendai Bay-Fukushima”) and southern. Density decline was detected in the northern population between 2000 and 2012. Unlike the earthquake, human activities may continue to affect the porpoises. Viability analyses of these small populations should be conducted in the future.     

The harbour porpoise (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phocoena phocoena</Emphasis>) in the central German Bight: phenology,abundance and distribution in 2002–2004

The harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) is widely distributed in the North Sea. During both the SCANS 1994 and 2005 surveys, porpoises were commonly encountered in offshore waters, for example in the central German Bight. However, information on year-round abundance and distribution of harbour porpoises in that area on a monthly basis was lacking. Between 2002 and 2004, we undertook 26 aerial line-transect surveys in a 2,600 km² area in the central German Bight, 100 km north of the Island of Borkum (Eastern Frisia). Data were analysed with DISTANCE software. A total of 406 porpoises were sighted. Sighting rates (=sightings/km transect) peaked in July 2002, February, May and September 2003, and in January and April 2004. Absolute densities (g(0) corrected) ranged between 0.14 and 1.54 animals/km² (peak in April 2004). Proportion of calves varied between 3.4 and 27.3%. Our results show a highly irregular appearance of harbour porpoises in the study area with no apparent seasonal trends in occurrence but peaks in single months. We propose that the area is used as a transit route with harbour porpoise moving in from regions of high density in summer (Northern Frisia) and early spring (Eastern Frisia).     

长江江豚声信号及其声行为的初步研究

长江江豚的声信号可分为两大类,即高频脉冲信号和低频连续信号。高频脉冲信号可能与回声定位有关,而低频连续信号可能与通信和情感表达有关。不管是高频脉冲信号还是低频连续信号,在豚处于自由状态时,夜间的发声次数要多于白天。       

江豚的染色体核型研究

江豚(Neophocaena phocaenoides)是鲸目(Cetacea)鼠海豚科(Phocaenidae)的一种小型齿鲸,在淡水和海洋中均有分布。关于江豚染色体的研究,国外文献中尚未见记载,国内亦无报道。Pilleri和Gihr(1972,1975)根据江豚的形态解剖学的研究,认为我国产的江豚和印度洋的及日本海的江豚不属同一个种,但国际上对此尚有不同意见。因此,搞清江豚染色体的核型,将可有助于澄清江豚属的的分类问题。本文就我国长江产江豚的染色体核型作初步探讨。     

半自然水域中母仔长江江豚呼吸行为的初步观察

2005年5~6月,采用岸边定点和流动观察的方法,对生活在半自然夹江水域中的母仔长江江豚(Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis)的呼吸行为进行了观察。结果表明,在仔豚出生的第一个月内,母仔豚的呼吸行为有以下主要特征:(1)仔豚出水仰角大于母豚;(2)母豚常背驮仔豚出水呼吸;(3)母仔豚呼吸行为多发生在夹江中心水域。     

长江河口区江豚种群调查

为弄清长江河口区江豚(Neophocaena asiaeorientalis)种群数量和分布情况,于2012年6月8~11日和2012年9月12~19日对这一水域作了2次较大覆盖面的目视考察和9次遗骸搜寻。6月的考察目击到江豚5群8头,9月的考察未目击江豚个体。依据样带法估算,长江河口水域6月份的江豚种群数量约为61头。全年共获得7头江豚遗骸,并搜集到其他5例死亡信息。对其中5头外表完整、特征保留良好的遗骸所作的鉴定结果显示,2头为长江亚种(N.asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis),3头为东亚亚种(N.asiaeorientalis sunameri)。调查表明,崇明岛西端和青草沙附近水域是长江亚种活动的热点水域,可作为重点监护区域。     

天鹅洲迁地保护江豚种群近亲繁殖状况评估

长江江豚(Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis)已处于极度濒危状况,迁地保护被认为是避免其灭绝最有希望的保护措施。本文选用21个多态性微卫星标记对2010年10月天鹅洲迁地保护江豚种群进行了亲子鉴定和亲缘关系分析,以检测该种群的近亲繁殖状况,为种群管理提供参考信息。本研究从18个体中检测到3个父-母-子家庭,以及母子和父子各1对。由于检测到的亲子关系较少,单从亲子鉴定结果不能判断该种群是否存在近亲繁殖。然而,亲缘关系分析结果表明,该迁地保护江豚种群的平均亲缘系数r为0.118 2,候选亲本间亲缘系数r为0.115 2,均显著高于长江江豚自然种群。而且,天鹅洲迁地保护江豚种群中具有亲缘关系的个体对达26.14%,高于自然种群6倍以上。此外,该种群的近交系数(Fis)为0.046。基于亲缘系数和近交系数的分析结果均表明,该种群存在较高的近交风险或者可能已经发生近交。本研究建议将种群中亲缘关系最多的雌性F34和雄性M45移出,并以每代(约5年)按雌雄1∶1的比例引进2头可繁殖个体,以降低近亲繁殖风险。此外,建议尽快为该迁地保护江豚种群构建遗传谱系,以便今后开展种群遗传管理。