Can gray whale management units be assessed using mitochondrial DNA?

Although most eastern North Pacific gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) feed in Alaskan waters north of the Aleutian peninsula, some have been reported as long-term feeding residents more southern ranging from northern California to southeast Alaska. The population history this smaller putative is unknown. Recently, native Americans Makah tribe attained permits harvest up five per year Washington State waters. Managers need know whether summer could be potentially depleted through low-level harvesting. This paper investigates feasibility using genetic data assess plausibility two possible histories for group: panmixia with group and a single colonisation event less that century ago. We find study would probably result an unambiguous answer question separate founded by event. Simulations show founding last differentiation 97.8% time (a = 0.05) between groups. Further, sensitivity analyses uncertain parameters used model results do not depend on values growth rate, mitochondrial allele frequency distribution or size whale after commercial harvest.