Identification of demographically independent populations within the currently designated Southeast Alaska harbor porpoise stock

Based on differences of trends in abundance and apparent discontinuous distribution of harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) within Southeast Alaska inland waters, Dahlheim et al. (2015) suggested population substructure within the currently designated Southeast Alaska stock. Population genetic analyses were conducted for harbor porpoise throughout Alaska, with a particular emphasis on porpoise in the Southeast Alaska stock. Using multiple genetic markers and sequence data generated from both tissue samples and environmental DNA (eDNA) samples, we identified significant genetic differentiation consistent with population genetic boundaries between different regions within the Southeast Alaska stock. 2022 Harbor porpoise Demographic Genetic eDNA Distribution NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) AFSC (Alaska Fisheries Science Center) NWFSC (Northwest Fisheries Science Center) CICOES (Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean and Ecosystem Studies) Submitted https://doi.org/10.25923/r1k0-ts37 Public Domain 2256