Fang Fei Tham: Diversity in the Deep: Delineating Drivers of Genetic Diversity and Population Structure in Data-Deficient Deep-Diving Marine Mammals

Pygmy sperm whales strand in distinct “hotspots” around Te Ika-a-Māui/North Island NZ, often stranding in cow-calf pairs, whilst goose-beaked whales strand intermittently throughout the entire NZ. We investigate and compare contemporary population structure and genetic differentiation using a genomic single nucleotide polymorphism dataset generated from double-digest restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD-seq) and mitochondrial haplotypes.

Our results indicate high levels of gene flow, with low levels of population structuring. Historical demography was inferred to examine effective population size trends over time and to investigate correlations to climate perturbations. Overall, we elucidate the drivers of genetic diversity and evolutionary processes to fill knowledge gaps of cryptic deep-diving species, where inadequate information prevents effective assessment for management and conservation strategies. </p>