Instead, we found high genetic variability and sign of population expansion, supporting the high variability observed in the morphological and behavioral traits of this species in this region. The taxonomic status of the New Zealand common dolphin has not been entirely clarified, since it is not clear to which lineage it is more related. We also found evidence of population structure suggesting that specialization in habitat or prey AG-014699 cost choice and site fidelity may play a role in shaping population structure of New Zealand common dolphins. The authors

thank staff from the Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, Massey University, for their assistance with DNA sequencing. Grateful thanks extend to the Department of Conservation, particularly Steph Rowe, Igor Debski, Kris Ramm, Helen McConnell, Steve Smith, and Laura Boren, and additionally to Anton van Helden (Te Papa Museum), Padraig Duignan, Wendi Roe, Laureline Meynier (Massey University), Selleckchem Staurosporine MFISH observers, and DOC rangers for their assistance with carcass recovery and post mortem logistics. Final thanks

are owed to Luca Mirimin, Gabriela de Tezanos Pinto, Nicky Wiseman, Mark Orams, and four anonymous reviewers whose useful comments improved earlier drafts of this manuscript. Research permit RNW/HO/2008/03 was issued to KAS by the New Zealand Department of Conservation. “
“Common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) use individually distinctive signature whistles which are

highly stereotyped and function as contact calls. Here we investigate whether Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (T. aduncus) use signature whistles. The frequency trace Cepharanthine of whistle contours recorded from three genetically distinct free-ranging populations was extracted and sorted into whistle types of similar shape using automated categorization. A signature whistle identification method based on the temporal patterns in signature whistle sequences of T. truncatus was used to identify signature whistle types (SWTs). We then compared the degree of variability in SWTs for several whistle parameters to determine which parameters are likely to encode identity information. Additional recordings from two temporarily isolated T. aduncus made during natural entrapment events in 2008 and 2009 were analyzed for the occurrence of SWTs. All populations were found to produce SWTs; 34 SWTs were identified from recordings of free-ranging T. aduncus and one SWT was prevalent in each recording of the two temporarily isolated individuals. Of the parameters considered, mean frequency and maximum frequency were the least variable and therefore most likely to reflect identity information encoded in frequency modulation patterns. Our results suggest that signature whistles are commonly used by T. aduncus. “
“National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Protected Resources, Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.