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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

North Pacific killer whale genetic studies conducted by Alaska Fisheries Scientific Center, National Marine Mammal Laboratory from 1990-10-26 to 2010-07-07 (NCEI Accession 0142202)

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The difficulties associated with detecting population boundaries have long constrained the conservation and management of highly mobile marine species, especially for wide-ranging cetaceans such as killer whales (Orcinus orca). In this study, we use molecular genetic data to test a priori hypotheses about population subdivisions generated from a decade of killer whale surveys across the northern North Pacific. A total of 462 skin biopsies were collected from free-swimming killer whales from 1990 to 2010 between the northern Gulf of Alaska in the east and the Sea of Okhotsk in the west, representing both the piscivorous resident and the mammal-eating Biggs (or transient) killer whales. Geographic patterns of genetic differentiation were supported by significant regions of genetic discontinuity providing evidence of population structuring within both lineages, and corroborating direct observations of restricted movements of individual whales. In the Aleutian Islands (Alaska), population strata were largely delimited by major oceanographic boundaries for resident killer whales. In contrast, subdivisions among Biggs killer whales indicated multiple genetic clusters in the Eastern Aleutians and Bering Sea. The presence of sympatric genetic clusters within Biggs whales suggests the presence of isolating mechanisms other than geographic distance within this highly mobile top predator.
  • Cite as: Parsons, Kim; Durban, John; Burdin, Alexander; Burkanov, Vladimir; Pitman, Robert; Barlow, Jay; Barrett-Lennard, Lance; LeDuc, Richard; Robertson, Kelly; Matkin, Craig; Wade, Paul (2016). North Pacific killer whale genetic studies conducted by Alaska Fisheries Scientific Center, National Marine Mammal Laboratory from 1990-10-26 to 2010-07-07 (NCEI Accession 0142202). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0142202. Accessed [date].
gov.noaa.nodc:0142202
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Distribution Formats
  • Originator data format
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Distributor NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
+1-301-713-3277
NCEI.Info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Time Period 1990-10-26 to 2010-07-07
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: 144
East: -141
South: 46
North: 65
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
  • Parsons, K. M., Durban, J. W., Burdin, A. M., Burkanov, V. N., Pitman, R. L., Barlow, J., Barrett-Lennard, L. G., LeDuc, R. G., Robertson, K. M., Matkin, C. O., & Wade, P. R. (2013). Geographic Patterns of Genetic Differentiation among Killer Whales in the Northern North Pacific. Journal of Heredity, 104(6), 737–754. https://doi.org/10.1093/jhered/est037
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2016-02-17
Data Presentation Form Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status Complete - production of the data has been completed
Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility
Data Update Frequency As needed
Supplemental Information
Submission Package ID: 9Y96YC
Purpose These data were collected to assess and quantify the population genetic structure of killer whales in the northern North Pacific between the Gulf of Alaska and the Russian Far East.
Use Limitations
  • accessLevel: Public
  • Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: Parsons, Kim; Durban, John; Burdin, Alexander; Burkanov, Vladimir; Pitman, Robert; Barlow, Jay; Barrett-Lennard, Lance; LeDuc, Richard; Robertson, Kelly; Matkin, Craig; Wade, Paul (2016). North Pacific killer whale genetic studies conducted by Alaska Fisheries Scientific Center, National Marine Mammal Laboratory from 1990-10-26 to 2010-07-07 (NCEI Accession 0142202). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0142202. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors
Principal Investigators
Contributors
Resource Providers
Publishers
Theme keywords NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS WMO_CategoryCode
  • oceanography
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
Data Center keywords NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
Instrument keywords NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS
Place keywords NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
Keywords NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Parsons, Kim; Durban, John; Burdin, Alexander; Burkanov, Vladimir; Pitman, Robert; Barlow, Jay; Barrett-Lennard, Lance; LeDuc, Richard; Robertson, Kelly; Matkin, Craig; Wade, Paul (2016). North Pacific killer whale genetic studies conducted by Alaska Fisheries Scientific Center, National Marine Mammal Laboratory from 1990-10-26 to 2010-07-07 (NCEI Accession 0142202). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0142202. Accessed [date].
Access Constraints
  • Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
Fees
  • In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.
Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps
  • 2016-02-17T17:58:11Z - NCEI Accession 0142202 v1.1 was published.
Output Datasets
Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps
  • Data Type: HAPLOTYPE CODE (measured); Units: mtDNA control region haplotype code; Observation Type: laboratory analysis; Sampling Instrument: See methods.
Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument
  • laboratory analysis
Last Modified: 2024-02-06T18:12:28Z
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