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Genetic and Ecological Divergence Between Northwest Atlantic Killer Whale Populations.

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Title: Genetic and Ecological Divergence Between Northwest Atlantic Killer Whale Populations.
Authors: Kucheravy, Caila E.1,2 (AUTHOR) kucherac@myumanitoba.ca, de Greef, Evelien1 (AUTHOR), Ferguson, Steven H.1,2 (AUTHOR), Watt, Cortney A.1,2 (AUTHOR), Lawson, Jack W.3 (AUTHOR), Kiszka, Jeremy J.4 (AUTHOR), Garroway, Colin J.1 (AUTHOR) colin.garroway@umanitoba.ca, Matthews, Cory J. D.1,2 (AUTHOR) cory.matthews@dfo‐mpo.gc.ca
Source: Ecology & Evolution (20457758). May2026, Vol. 16 Issue 5, p1-14. 14p.
Subject Terms: *Habitat partitioning (Ecology), *Global warming, Genetic variation, Stable isotope analysis, Foraging behavior, Holocene Epoch, Killer whale, Reproductive isolation
Geographic Terms: Atlantic Ocean, Arctic regions
Abstract: Killer whales (Orcinus orca) exhibit substantial genetic and ecological variation across their global distribution. Differentiation between neighboring or sympatric populations is thought to be driven by foraging specialization and social organization, which can lead to reproductive isolation and facilitate the emergence of distinct ecotypes or morphotypes. Here, we use whole‐genome resequencing and compound‐specific stable isotope analysis of amino acids to investigate links between genetic and ecological differentiation in two genetically distinct killer whale populations in the northwest Atlantic, specifically in the eastern Canadian Arctic and Greenland (ECAG1 and ECAG2). Essential amino acid stable carbon isotope ratios (δ13C) suggest that the populations maintain largely distinct distributions or habitat use patterns. Amino acid‐specific stable nitrogen isotope ratios (δ15N) indicate ECAG1 has a higher trophic level diet than ECAG2. Previously undetected genetic substructure within the ECAG1 population revealed finer‐scale genetic differentiation between individuals sampled in the eastern Canadian Arctic and those sampled in more temperate northwest Atlantic waters. However, small sample sizes prevented exploration of isotopic differentiation among them. Within ECAG1, considerable interannual variation in δ13C and δ15N amino acid values of seven individuals sampled across different years suggests some degree of ecological plasticity. Concurrent genetic and ecological differentiation suggests that northwest Atlantic killer whales have diverged ecologically, possibly in allopatry, and are now reproductively isolated under secondary contact, comparable to population‐level differences observed in other regions. However, their degree of ecological plasticity and secondary contact within expanding Arctic ranges raises questions about whether current levels of divergence will be maintained or eroded with ongoing Arctic warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Ecology & Evolution (20457758) is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: Genetic and Ecological Divergence Between Northwest Atlantic Killer Whale Populations.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kucheravy%2C+Caila+E%2E%22">Kucheravy, Caila E.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> kucherac@myumanitoba.ca</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22de+Greef%2C+Evelien%22">de Greef, Evelien</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ferguson%2C+Steven+H%2E%22">Ferguson, Steven H.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Watt%2C+Cortney+A%2E%22">Watt, Cortney A.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lawson%2C+Jack+W%2E%22">Lawson, Jack W.</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kiszka%2C+Jeremy+J%2E%22">Kiszka, Jeremy J.</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Garroway%2C+Colin+J%2E%22">Garroway, Colin J.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> colin.garroway@umanitoba.ca</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Matthews%2C+Cory+J%2E+D%2E%22">Matthews, Cory J. D.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> cory.matthews@dfo‐mpo.gc.ca</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Ecology+%26+Evolution+%2820457758%29%22">Ecology & Evolution (20457758)</searchLink>. May2026, Vol. 16 Issue 5, p1-14. 14p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Habitat+partitioning+%28Ecology%29%22">Habitat partitioning (Ecology)</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Global+warming%22">Global warming</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Genetic+variation%22">Genetic variation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Stable+isotope+analysis%22">Stable isotope analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foraging+behavior%22">Foraging behavior</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Holocene+Epoch%22">Holocene Epoch</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Killer+whale%22">Killer whale</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Reproductive+isolation%22">Reproductive isolation</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Atlantic+Ocean%22">Atlantic Ocean</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Arctic+regions%22">Arctic regions</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Killer whales (Orcinus orca) exhibit substantial genetic and ecological variation across their global distribution. Differentiation between neighboring or sympatric populations is thought to be driven by foraging specialization and social organization, which can lead to reproductive isolation and facilitate the emergence of distinct ecotypes or morphotypes. Here, we use whole‐genome resequencing and compound‐specific stable isotope analysis of amino acids to investigate links between genetic and ecological differentiation in two genetically distinct killer whale populations in the northwest Atlantic, specifically in the eastern Canadian Arctic and Greenland (ECAG1 and ECAG2). Essential amino acid stable carbon isotope ratios (δ13C) suggest that the populations maintain largely distinct distributions or habitat use patterns. Amino acid‐specific stable nitrogen isotope ratios (δ15N) indicate ECAG1 has a higher trophic level diet than ECAG2. Previously undetected genetic substructure within the ECAG1 population revealed finer‐scale genetic differentiation between individuals sampled in the eastern Canadian Arctic and those sampled in more temperate northwest Atlantic waters. However, small sample sizes prevented exploration of isotopic differentiation among them. Within ECAG1, considerable interannual variation in δ13C and δ15N amino acid values of seven individuals sampled across different years suggests some degree of ecological plasticity. Concurrent genetic and ecological differentiation suggests that northwest Atlantic killer whales have diverged ecologically, possibly in allopatry, and are now reproductively isolated under secondary contact, comparable to population‐level differences observed in other regions. However, their degree of ecological plasticity and secondary contact within expanding Arctic ranges raises questions about whether current levels of divergence will be maintained or eroded with ongoing Arctic warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Ecology & Evolution (20457758) is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1002/ece3.73593
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 14
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Habitat partitioning (Ecology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Global warming
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Genetic variation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Stable isotope analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Foraging behavior
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      – SubjectFull: Holocene Epoch
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Killer whale
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Reproductive isolation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Atlantic Ocean
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Arctic regions
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      – TitleFull: Genetic and Ecological Divergence Between Northwest Atlantic Killer Whale Populations.
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            NameFull: Ferguson, Steven H.
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              Text: May2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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