Genomic Analysis of Population History for Hawaiian Monk Seals
March 14, 2024
Advances in genomic technology and affordability offer a novel opportunity to revisit questions about Hawaiian monk seal trends
The Hawaiian monk seal, one of the world’s most endangered marine mammals, has faced decades of declines and has been the focus of intensive conservation efforts.
A myriad of conservation threats has led to range-wide population declines, but population trends among islands can vary widely.
Populations in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands have been declining, whereas Main Hawaiian Islands numbers are expanding.
Molecular data can provide information to disentangle population structure and dynamics.
Hauser S, Robinson S, Latch E 2024. Genomic analysis of population history for Hawaiian monk seals Endang Species Res 53:327-34.
https://doi.org/10.3354/esr01308