
Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are rapidly becoming the population genomic markers in addressing ecology, evolution, and conservation issues for their high capacity to access variability across the genome. We isolated a total of 140 ideal SNPs from the finless porpoise and used 78 (under Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium) of them to conduct those issues especially for addressing population genetic differentiation. Bayesian clustering and principal component analyses all suggested that finless porpoises in Chinese waters could be divided into three distinct genetic groupings. Low levels of within-population genetic variation (mean HE = 0.3405, standard deviation = 0.1188) and significant differentiation among populations (FST = 0.1050-0.1628, P < 0.01) were confirmed. Limited gene flow was found especially between the freshwater Yangtze River porpoise and the oceanic Yellow Sea and South China Sea populations, which strongly suggested that some barriers might have restricted their genetic exchange. These evidences not only support a recent subdivision of the finless porpoise into two species but also suggest a full species status for the Yangtze finless porpoise, especially considering the significant genetic divergence between freshwater and marine porpoises, in combination with the unique distribution of Yangtze finless porpoises in freshwater and their distinctness in physiological and morphological features.
China, Genome, Genetic Drift, Genetic Variation, Bayes Theorem, Porpoises, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Evolution, Molecular, Animals, Erratum, Research Article
China, Genome, Genetic Drift, Genetic Variation, Bayes Theorem, Porpoises, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Evolution, Molecular, Animals, Erratum, Research Article
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 3 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
