@article{6ee61641a9d2414b89978d4564f884e7,
title = "Beyond genetic differences: epigenetic variation in common bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus from contrasting marine ecosystems",
abstract = "Recent genetic and morphological studies have indicated an incipient ecological divergence between 2 ecotypes of common bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus in the Southwestern Atlantic. However, genetic variation is not the only molecular mechanism that alters the phenotype of these animals: epigenetics can also influence phenotypic plasticity, as well as the ecological adaptation and divergence of natural populations. Nevertheless, very little is known about the role that epigenetics plays in the population ecology of marine mammals. In this work, we tested whether there are differences in DNA methylation patterns between a coastal and an offshore ecotype of common bottlenose dolphin. Methylation patterns were analyzed using the methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism technique on biopsy samples collected from animals of both ecotypes. We found consistent differences in DNA methylation patterns between coastal and offshore individuals. We also confirmed the genetic differences described in previous studies, indicating that the divergence between ecotypes has both genetic and epigenetic components. Our data show that it is possible to differentiate animals from the coastal and offshore ecotypes using DNA methylation markers, supporting the hypothesis that contrasting environments - which are decisive for the ecological divergence of these populations - lead to epigenetic modifications in common bottlenose dolphins.",
keywords = "Cetaceans, DNA methylation, Ecological divergence, Epigenetics, Marine mammals",
author = "Tatsch, {Ana Carolina Correa} and Proietti, {Ma{\'i}ra Carneiro} and Rebeca Zanini and Fruet, {Pedro F.} and Secchi, {Eduardo R.}",
note = "Funding Information: We are thankful for the financial support of the Organization for the Conservation of South American Aquatic Mammals − YAQU PACHA e.V., Nuremberg Zoo, Porto do Rio Grande RS, and Chevron Brazil Upstream Frade Ltda (number CW702315). PETROBRAS, through the Brazilian Inter-Ministerial Commission for the Resources of the Sea (CIRM), supplied diesel for all surveys onboard the FURG's RV 'Atl{\^a}ntico Sul' that allowed sampling oceanic dolphins. We thank all researchers and students who helped collect data at sea, and the crew of RV 'Atl{\^a}ntico Sul, ' especially Rodrigo Genoves, who also helped sample coastal dolphins. We also thank Dr. Vera L{\'u}cia da Silva Valente Gaiesky for technical training and advice. This study was partially funded by the Brazilian Long-Term Ecological Research Program (PELD) from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) (Proc.441492/2016-9 and 442206/2020-8), and the Funda{\c c}{\~a}o de Amparo {\`a} Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (Proc. 16/2551-0000102-2). The Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) provided access to the Portal de Peri{\'o}dicos and financial support through the Programa de Excel{\^e}ncia Acad{\^e}mica − PROEX. CNPq also provided fellowships to E.R.S. (PQ 310597/2018-8), M.C.P. (PQ 312470/2018-5), and A.C.C.T. (GD 142397/2016-4), and an international fellowship to P.F.F. (SWE 201567/2011-3). This article is part of A.C.C.T.'s PhD thesis in Biological Oceanography under the supervision of E.R.S. and M.C.P., and is a contribution of the Research Group Ecologia e Conserva{\c c}{\~a}o da Megafauna Marinha − EcoMega FURG/CNPq. Funding Information: Acknowledgements. We are thankful for the financial support of the Organization for the Conservation of South American Aquatic Mammals − YAQU PACHA e.V., Nuremberg Zoo, Porto do Rio Grande RS, and Chevron Brazil Upstream Frade Ltda (number CW702315). PETROBRAS, through the Brazilian Inter-Ministerial Commission for the Resources of the Sea (CIRM), supplied diesel for all surveys onboard the FURG{\textquoteright}s RV {\textquoteleft}Atl{\^a}ntico Sul{\textquoteright} that allowed sampling oceanic dolphins. We thank all researchers and students who helped collect data at sea, and the crew of RV {\textquoteleft}Atl{\^a}ntico Sul,{\textquoteright} especially Rodrigo Genoves, who also helped sample coastal dolphins. We also thank Dr. Vera L{\'u}cia da Silva Valente Gaiesky for technical training and advice. This study was partially funded by the Brazilian Long-Term Ecological Research Program (PELD) from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) (Proc.441492/2016-9 and 442206/2020-8), and the Funda{\c c}{\~a}o de Amparo {\`a} Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (Proc. 16/2551-0000102-2). The Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) provided access to the Portal de Peri{\'o}dicos and financial support through the Programa de Excel{\^e}ncia Acad{\^e}mica − PROEX. CNPq also provided fellowships to E.R.S. (PQ 310597/2018-8), M.C.P. (PQ 312470/2018-5), and A.C.C.T. (GD 142397/2016-4), and an international fellowship to P.F.F. (SWE 201567/2011-3). This article is part of A.C.C.T.{\textquoteright}s PhD thesis in Biological Oceanography under the supervision of E.R.S. and M.C.P., and is a contribution of the Research Group Ecologia e Con-serva{\c c}{\~a}o da Megafauna Marinha − EcoMega FURG/CNPq. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} Inter-Research 2021.",
year = "2021",
doi = "10.3354/meps13761",
language = "English",
volume = "671",
pages = "219--233",
journal = "Marine Ecology Progress Series",
issn = "0171-8630",
publisher = "Inter-research",
}
