CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE MOLECULAR ECOLOGY OF ARCTIC MARINE MAMMALS

摘要: Key to predicting likely consequences of future climate change for Arctic marine mammals is developing a detailed understanding how these species use their environment today and they were affected by past climate-induced environmental change. Genetic analyses are uniquely placed address types questions. Molecular genetic approaches being used determine distribution migration patterns, dispersal breeding behavior, population structure abundance over time, the effects present in mammals. A review published studies revealed that subdivision, dispersal, gene flow was shaped primarily evolutionary history, geography, sea ice, philopatry predictable, seasonally available resources. meta-analysis data from 38 study units across seven found significant relationships between neutral diversity size region, revealing small, isolated subarctic populations tend harbor lower than larger populations. few small had substantially others. By contrast, other retain substantial despite extensive declines 19th 20th centuries. The contemporary perspectives gained can be model different projections individual behavior ultimately fitness viability. Future research should focus on: (1) ancient-DNA techniques directly reconstruct histories through analysis historical prehistorical material, (2) genomic technologies identify, map, survey genes influence fitness, (3) long-term monitor investigate evolution (4) further Arctic-wide, multispecies analyses, preferably taxa trophic levels, (5) parameters risk analyses.