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June 16, 2024
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The genomic footprint of whaling and isolation in fin whale populations.

Publicated to:Nature Communications. 14 (1): 5465- - 2023-09-12 14(1), DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40052-z

Authors: Nigenda-Morales SF; Lin M; Nuñez-Valencia PG; Kyriazis CC; Beichman AC; Robinson JA; Ragsdale AP; Urbán R J; Archer FI; Viloria-Gómora L; Pérez-Álvarez MJ; Poulin E; Lohmueller KE; Moreno-Estrada A; Wayne RK

Affiliations

Advanced Genomics Unit, National Laboratory of Genomics for Biodiversity (Langebio), Center for Research and Advanced Studies (Cinvestav), Irapuato, Guanajuato, 36824, Mexico. - Author
Advanced Genomics Unit, National Laboratory of Genomics for Biodiversity (Langebio), Center for Research and Advanced Studies (Cinvestav), Irapuato, Guanajuato, 36824, Mexico. andres.moreno@cinvestav.mx. - Author
Advanced Genomics Unit, National Laboratory of Genomics for Biodiversity (Langebio), Center for Research and Advanced Studies (Cinvestav), Irapuato, Guanajuato, 36824, Mexico. snigenda@csusm.edu. - Author
Departamento de Ciencias Marinas y Costeras, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur (UABCS), La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. - Author
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA. - Author
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA. klohmueller@g.ucla.edu. - Author
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA. meixilin@ucla.edu. - Author
Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA. - Author
Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile. - Author
Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA. - Author
Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA. - Author
Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE), Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile. - Author
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Abstract

Twentieth century industrial whaling pushed several species to the brink of extinction, with fin whales being the most impacted. However, a small, resident population in the Gulf of California was not targeted by whaling. Here, we analyzed 50 whole-genomes from the Eastern North Pacific (ENP) and Gulf of California (GOC) fin whale populations to investigate their demographic history and the genomic effects of natural and human-induced bottlenecks. We show that the two populations diverged ~16,000 years ago, after which the ENP population expanded and then suffered a 99% reduction in effective size during the whaling period. In contrast, the GOC population remained small and isolated, receiving less than one migrant per generation. However, this low level of migration has been crucial for maintaining its viability. Our study exposes the severity of whaling, emphasizes the importance of migration, and demonstrates the use of genome-based analyses and simulations to inform conservation strategies.

Keywords

AnimalsFin whaleGenomicsHumansIndustry

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Nature Communications due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2023, it was in position 8/134, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Multidisciplinary Sciences. Notably, the journal is positioned above the 90th percentile.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from the Field Citation Ratio (FCR) of the Dimensions source, it yields a value of: 8.84, which indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: Dimensions Jul 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-07-05, the following number of citations:

  • Europe PMC: 7

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-07-05:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 50.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 56 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 126.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 48 (Altmetric).
  • The number of mentions in news outlets: 13 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: Antarctic; Chile; Mexico; United States of America.