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History and fate of a small isolated population of Weddell seals at White Island, Antarctica

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Abstract

Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii Lesson) at White Island, Antarctica form a small, completely enclosed, natural population hypothesized to be of recent origin, likely founded by individuals from nearby Erebus Bay. This population constitutes an ideal model to document a founder event and ensuing genetic drift, with implications for conservation. Here we combined historical accounts, census and tagging data since the late 1960s, and genetic data (41 microsatellite loci and mitochondrial DNA sequences) from 84 individuals representing nearly all individuals present between 1990 and 2000 to investigate the history of the founding of the White Island population, document its population dynamics and evaluate possible future threats. We fully resolved parental relationships over three overlapping generations. Cytonuclear disequilibrium among the first generation suggested that it comprised the direct descendants of a founding group. We estimated that the White Island population was founded by a small group of individuals that accessed the island during a brief break in the surrounding sea ice in the mid-1950s, consistent with historical accounts. Direct and indirect methods of calculating effective population size were highly congruent and suggested a minimum founding group consisting of three females and two males. The White Island population showed altered reproductive dynamics compared to Erebus Bay, including highly skewed sex ratio, documented inbred mating events, and the oldest known reproducing Weddell seals. A comparison with the putative source population showed that the White Island population has an effective inbreeding coefficient (F e) of 0.29. Based on a pedigree analysis including the hypothesized founding group, 86% of the individuals for whom parents were known had inbreeding coefficients ranging 0.09–0.31. This high level of inbreeding was correlated with reduced pup survival. Seals at White Island therefore face the combined effects of low genetic variability, lack of immigration, and inbreeding depression. Ultimately, this study provides evidence of the effects of natural isolation on a large, long-lived vertebrate and can provide clues to the potential effects of anthropogenic-caused isolation of similar taxa.

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Acknowledgments

Many persons graciously supplied samples, contacts, personal accounts, letters, field notes or pertinent reports, including J. Basset, M. Castellini, M. Crawley, A. DeVries, R. Eisert, L. Fuiman, R. Gee, B. Karl, H. Keys, G. Knox, G. Kooyman, L. Rea, C. Swithinbank, J. W. Testa and P. Wilson. Samples AF31, AF32, AF37 and AF0875 were provided by the University of Alaska museum, frozen tissue collection (J. A. Cook and G. H. Jarrell). We especially thank G. Knox for donating his field journals. M. Castellini, W. Testa and students, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, tagged seals and collected data at White Island, 1990–1994. K. Abernathy, A. Brunet, M. Cameron, C. Counard, S. Dahl, J. Degroot, R. Jensen, R. Johnson, D. McNulty, S. Melin, D. Monson, R. Reichle, B. Stewart and P. Yochem assisted with fieldwork during 1995–1999. R. Garrott, K. Proffitt and students at Montana State University provided recent population data collected since 2000. We thank D. Ainley, B. Dickerson, G. Duke, H. Huber, W. Testa, and two anonymous reviewers for manuscript reviews. Laboratory analyses were performed at the University of Alberta. Logistical support was provided by USAP. All sampling was carried out under US Marine Mammal Permit No. 976 and University of Minnesota Animal Care guidelines. This research was funded by National Science Foundation grants OPP-9420818 and OPP-9725820.

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  1. Thomas S. Gelatt

    Present address: National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Mammal Lab, 7600 Sandpoint Way NE, Seattle, WA, 98115, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA

    Thomas S. Gelatt

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Corey S. Davis, Ian Stirling & Curtis Strobeck

  3. Canadian Wildlife Services, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Ian Stirling

  4. Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA

    Donald B. Siniff

  5. Campus Saint-Jean, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Isabelle Delisle

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Gelatt, T.S., Davis, C.S., Stirling, I. et al. History and fate of a small isolated population of Weddell seals at White Island, Antarctica. Conserv Genet 11, 721–735 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-009-9856-6

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