Myth or relict: does ancient DNA detect the enigmatic Upland seal?

摘要: The biological status of the so-called 'Upland seal' has remained contentious ever since historical records described a distinct seal from uplands New Zealand's (NZ) remote sub-Antarctic islands. Subsequent genetic surveys NZ fur (Arctocephalus forsteri) detected two highly-divergent mtDNA clades, hypothesized to represent post-sealing hybrid swarm between 'mainland' (Australia-NZ; A. and (putative 'Upland'; snaresensis) lineages. We present ancient-DNA analyses prehistoric mainland seals, revealing that both these lineages were already widely distributed across region at time human arrival. These findings indicate anthropogenic factors did not contribute admixture lineages, cast doubt on validity Upland seal. Human-mediated impacts Arctocephalus diversity are instead highlighted by dramatic temporal haplotype frequency-shift due drift in heavily bottlenecked populations following cessation industrial-scale harvesting. extinction-recolonisation dynamics add growing picture human-mediated change NZ's coastal marine ecosystems.