Distribution and diversity of mtDNA lineages among southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) from Australia and New Zealand

Using a biopsy dart system, samples of skin tissue were collected from sout hern right whales (Eubalaena australis) in 1995 on two wintering grounds, s outhwest Australia (n = 20) and the Auckland Islands of New Zealand (n = 20 ); and on offshore feeding grounds at Latitudes 40 to 43 degrees, south of Western Australia (n = 5). A variable section of the mitochondrial DNA cont rol-region (289 nucleotides) was amplified and sequenced from these 45 indi viduals (21 males, 20 females and 4 of unknown sex), distinguishing a total of seven unique sequences (i.e. mtDNA haplotypes). Two haplotypes were fou nd on both wintering grounds (including a common type representing 45% of e ach sample), and five types were unique to only one wintering ground. An an alysis of variance adapted for molecular information revealed significant g enetic differentiation between the two wintering grounds (p = 0.017). The f eeding-ground sample was too small for statistical comparison with the wint ering grounds, but included two haplotypes found only in the Auckland Islan ds as well as the common haplotype found on both wintering grounds. The nuc leotide diversity and differentiation of mtDNA among the right whales was s imilar to that among humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) from the same regions (Baker et al. 1998), but haplotype diversity was significantly red uced, perhaps as a result of more intensive hunting during the last century and continued illegal hunting during this century.