Multiple origins of vagrant Subantarctic fur seals: a long journey to the Brazilian coast detected by molecular markers
Résumé
In this study, we present the Wrst data about putative source populations of the vagrant Subantarctic fur seal, Arctocephalus tropicalis, found on the Brazilian coast, through the comparison of their mitochondrial DNA control sequences to exclusive haplotypes from the main breeding colonies of the species. The results indicated that, despite the majority of the vagrant individuals are from Gough Island (the closest breeding site to the Brazilian coast), they also come from other reproductive colonies, such as Crozet Island, a distance around 16,500 km from the Brazilian coast. Furthermore, the molecular data identiWed three possible management units: (1) Gough, (2) Amsterdam, and (3) Marion, Macquarie and Crozet. This signiWcant genetic subdivision must be taken into account in any future management plan for the species conservation, including rehabilitation and even reintroduction of vagrant fur seals.