Mitochondrial Variation of Bottlenose Dolphins (<i>Tursiops truncatus</i>) from the Canary Islands Suggests a Key Population for Conservation with High Connectivity within the North-East Atlantic Ocean

Abstract

Simple Summary: The common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, is a worldwide cetacean species essential for marine ecosystems' health and balance. Understanding the genetic connectivity and structure of different populations is crucial for the correct management and conservation of a species, such as designing Special Areas of Conservation or Marine Protected Areas. In this study, we described the genetic composition of 49 bottlenose dolphins from the Canary Islands, which were previously unstudied, and compared them with individuals from the rest of the North-East Atlantic Ocean. The results showed that Canarian bottlenose dolphins have a remarkably diverse genetic composition, and this population is possibly part of a larger oceanic population in the North Atlantic. Therefore, the studied Special Areas of Conservation in the Canary Islands may correspond to a hotspot of genetic diversity and could be a strategic area for the conservation of the species. In recent decades, worldwide cetacean species have been protected, but they are still threatened. The bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) is a vulnerable keystone species and a useful bioindicator of the health and balance of marine ecosystems in oceans all over the world. The genetic structure of the species is shaped by their niche specialization (along with other factors), leading to the classification of two ecotypes: coastal and pelagic. In this study, the genetic diversity, population structure, and ecotypes of bottlenose dolphins from the Canary Islands were assessed through the analysis of 49 new samples from biopsies and from stranded animals using the 636 bp portion of the mitochondrial control region and 343 individuals from databases (n = 392). The results reveal high genetic diversity in Canarian bottlenose dolphins (Hd = 0.969 and pi = 0.0165) and the apparent lack of population genetic structure within this archipelago. High genetic structure (Fst, phi st) was found between the Canary Islands and coastal populations, while little to no structure was found with the pelagic populations. These results suggest that Canarian bottlenose dolphins are part of pelagic ecotype populations in the North Atlantic. The studied Special Areas of Conservation in the Canary Islands may correspond to a hotspot of genetic diversity of the species and could be a strategic area for the conservation of the oceanic ecotype of bottlenose dolphins.