Genetic characterization, age and reproductive status of dwarf sperm whales (Kogia sima) stranded along the Italian coastlines

N. Maio, T. Fioravanti, Lucrezia Latini, A. Petraccioli, M. Mezzasalma, Gianni Insacco, A. Splendiani, F. Pollaro, F. Guarino, V. Caputo Barucchi
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Abstract

The knowledge of the life history traits of cetaceans, especially in the case of species that are difficult to observe in the wild, often benefits from the study of stranded individuals. The dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima) is a vagrant cetacean species in the Mediterranean Sea, which is rarely sighted in water and occasionally is found stranded along the Italian coasts. In this work, we investigated the genetics, age, and reproductive status of three dead individuals (1 male, 1 female, 1 unsexed), stranded in three different sites along Italian coastlines. We used mitochondrial DNA markers for tracing the geographical origin of the animals, tooth sectioning as a proxy for their age estimation and gonadal histology for evaluating their reproductive status. Genetic analyses revealed that the male and the female are K. sima belonging to the Atlantic clade (A clade). The female, with a total body length (TBL) of 1.95 m, had an estimated age of 12 years, and ovaries with one corpus luteum. The male, with a TBL of 2.07 m, had testicles in late spermatogenesis and an estimated age of 22-24 years. From the unsexed individual, which had an estimated age of at least 20 years, no gonadal samples were obtained as it was stranded as a skeleton. Our findings will contribute to increase the knowledge of some unexplored provenance and life-history traits of K. sima visiting the Mediterranean.
意大利海岸线搁浅的侏儒抹香鲸(Kogia sima)的遗传特征、年龄和繁殖状况
对鲸目动物生活史特征的了解,尤其是对难以在野外观察到的物种的了解,往往得益于对搁浅个体的研究。侏儒抹香鲸(Kogia sima)是地中海的一种流浪鲸目动物,很少能在水中看到它,偶尔会在意大利海岸发现搁浅的个体。在这项研究中,我们调查了在意大利海岸线三个不同地点搁浅的三只死亡个体(一雄一雌,一只未鉴定性别)的遗传学、年龄和繁殖状况。我们利用线粒体 DNA 标记来追踪动物的地理来源,利用牙齿切片来估算动物的年龄,利用性腺组织学来评估动物的生殖状况。遗传分析表明,雌雄均为大西洋支系(A 支系)的 K. sima。雌性体长(TBL)为1.95米,估计年龄为12岁,卵巢有一个黄体。雄性个体的总体长为 2.07 米,睾丸处于精子发生后期,估计年龄为 22-24 岁。无性个体的估计年龄至少为 20 岁,由于它是一具搁浅的骸骨,因此没有获得性腺样本。我们的研究结果将有助于增加对地中海来访的 K. sima 的一些未探索的产地和生活史特征的了解。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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